THE EFFECT OF ALUMINIUM ON CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM UPTAKE AND TRANSLOCATION OF POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.)

Aluminium (Al³⁺) toxicity can cause inhibition of plant root growth and disturbance of its activity. Al³⁺ can cause displacement of cations such as calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) from the apoplast of root cells and in addition can inhibit their uptake. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of toxic levels of Al³⁺ on uptake and translocation of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ of potato plants. Eleven potato cultivars were vegetatively grown in nutrient solutions having a pH 4.0 with three different levels of toxic aluminium (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mM Al³⁺ L^-1), and control (without Al³⁺). After six days of growth, plants were divided into roots and shoots, and the concentrations of Al³⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ of potato roots and shoots were determined. Significant differences in concentrations of Al³⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in both roots and shoots were found among potato cultivars grown on nutrient solutions with different levels of Al³⁺. The significantly highest concentrations of Al³⁺ in roots and shoots were determined in plants grown on nutrient solution with 1,0 mM Al³⁺ L^-1, 27213 mg kg^-1 of dry weight (DW) and 200.36 mg kg^-1 DW, respectively. Concentrations of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in roots and shoots significantly decrease with increasing Al³⁺ concentrations in nutrient solutions, with lowest concentrations in plants grown on solution with 1.0 mM Al³⁺ L-1, 0.75% and 1.58% of Ca²⁺ and 0.55% and 0.46% of Mg²⁺ in roots and shoots, respectively.