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Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology ›› 2018, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (12): 4191-4198.doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.201812.006

• Research paper • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of aluminum toxicity on physiological and leaf chlorophyll fluorescent characteristics of rubber tree seedlings

AN Feng1, LI Chang-zhen1,2,3*, ZHANG Ting-ting3, WANG Li-feng1, WANG Ji-kun1, XIE Gui-shui1   

  1. 1Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences/Ministry of Agriculture Danzhou Investigation & Experiment Station of Tropical Crops, Danzhou 571737, Hainan, China;
    2Hainan Province Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresources, Haikou 570228, China;
    3Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
  • Received:2018-04-11 Revised:2018-09-30 Online:2018-12-20 Published:2018-12-20
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31670633).
    2018-04-11 Received, 2018-09-30 Accepted

Abstract: Aluminum toxicity is common in tropical acid soils. However, its effects on rubber tree growth and latex production are still unclear. Using potted sand culture seedlings of rubber tree, the effects of different aluminum ion concentrations on physiological and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence characteristics were investigated. The results showed that the cell membrane permeability, free proline content, and soluble sugar content were significantly increased, while the relative water content, catalase and peroxidase activities, Chl a content, Chl maximum fluorescence yield, maximum photosynthesis efficiency and potential activity of PSII, photochemical quenching coefficient, non-photochemical quenching coefficient and photosynthetic electron transport rate were significantly decreased when the saplings were subjected to AlCl3 treatments with concentration higher than 200 mmol·L-1. When the AlCl3 concentration was lower than 100 mmol·L-1, the aforementioned parameters did not show any significant variation among different treatments for the entire duration of the experiment. These results indicated that the rubber tree could tolerate some degree of aluminum toxicity. The threshold concentration of aluminum toxicity for rubber tree seedlings would be between 100 to 200 mmol·L-1. When this threshold was exceeded, aluminum toxicity would cause irreversible damage to rubber tree seedlings.