Competitive Al³⁺ inhibition of net Mg²⁺ uptake by intact Lolium multiflorum roots: II. Plant age effects

Rhizotoxicity of Al is more pronounced in younger plants. Effects of Al on nutrient uptake by plants of different age are poorly understood. The depletion technique was used to monitor net Mg²⁺ uptake from nutrient solutions by intact 15- and 35-day-old plants of two ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) cultivars. Lowering the pH from 6.0 to 4.2 decreased the maximum net ion influx without affecting K_m. Aluminum at 6.6 micromolar Al³⁺ activity increased K_m indicating competitive inhibition. The effects of pH and 6.6 micromolar Al³⁺ on net Mg²⁺ uptake were much larger in 15- than in 35-day-old plants. Aluminum at 26 micromolar Al³⁺ activity competitively inhibited net Mg²⁺ uptake by 35-day-old plants, while causing time- and external Mg²⁺ activity-dependent net Mg²⁺ efflux from 15-day-old plants. The equilibrium constant (K_i) of a reversible combination of postulated plasmalemma Mg²⁺ transporter and Al³⁺ was calculated to be 2 and 5 micromolar Al³⁺ activity for 15-day-old plants of Wilo and Gulf ryegrass, respectively, and 21 micromolar Al³⁺ activity for 35-day-old plants of both cultivars. The Al³⁺-mediated increase in K_m was larger for 15-day-old plants of the Al-sensitive cultivar 'Wilo' than of the more Al-tolerant cultivar 'Gulf,' while Al³⁺ affected 35-day-old plants of both cultivars to the same extent.