title: Induction of callose in roots of Norway spruce seedlings after short-term exposure to aluminum.
abstract: Callose (1,3-beta-glucan) is a suggested physiological indicator of aluminum (Al) toxicity in crop plants. It is not known if callose serves a similar function in forest trees, because quantitative data on callose formation in tree roots are limited, particularly under controlled conditions. To evaluate callose as a physiological indicator of Al toxicity in tree roots, we quantified callose formation in roots of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings. Seedlings were grown in simulated soil solutions in the presence or absence (control) of Al under controlled conditions. In seedlings grown in solutions containing 280 microM Al, callose concentrations in roots were twice as high as control values after 6 h of Al treatment and 5 times higher than control values after 1 day. Thereafter, root callose concentrations gradually decreased and were only twice as high as control values after 7 days. The presence of various Al concentrations in the simulated soil solutions indicated that callose was induced by a relatively low Al concentration (84 microM). We conclude that callose in tree roots is an indicator of Al toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland. yhirano@affrc.go.jp
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Elisabeth Graf
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Pannatier
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Ivano
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brunner
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005936:Glucans / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D028222:Picea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014197:Trees / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005936:Glucans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C038459:curdlan; C048306:callose; D000535:Aluminum