Aluminium toxicity in plants: a review

Aluminium toxicity and problems concerning tolerance and ecological performance are discussed briefly. Differential tolerance of plant genotypes to aluminium stress is a more promising approach to increase our understanding of aluminium tolerance in plants. Induction of Al tolerance and its characterization are also reviewed. The cytogenetic effects of aluminium on plants are discussed in depth. Efforts have been made to compare the relative sensitivity of various plant species including micro- and macro-flora to aluminium, and uptake and transport of aluminium are taken into account with phytotoxicity and their interactions with nutrients. Present knowledge concerning the physiology and biochemistry of aluminium with regard to phytotoxicity is discussed and offers some ways for increasing the Al tolerance. This review shows the complexity of the toxicity mechanisms of trace elements.