Growth and nitrate assimilation in pearl millet exposed to aluminum stress

Abstract EN

Pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoid's L) seedlings grown in solution culture were exposed to various aluminum (AI) concentrations (0, 10, 30, 60 and 100 µM) for 20 days.

The effect of AI on nitrate (N03) assimilation in roots and shoots was studied.

Presence of Al in the growth medium lowered roots and shoots biomass.

The nitrate reeducates (NR) and nitrite reeducates (NiR) activities in the root and shoot declined in AI- .treated plants.

Concurrently, tissue N03-content was also decreased under AI-stress.

Soluble proteins; and chl, orophyll contents were slightly decreased at high Al level (100µM).

These results suggested that AI had an inhibitory effect on the assimilatory N03- reducing system through restricting N03- availability in the tissues.