About 30-40% of the world land is acidic in nature, aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) toxicity co-existed in acidic soils that pose a potential threat in crop production. Antagonistic relationship between Al and Mn was previously described in our study. In the present work, we determined the biochemical mechanism which regulate antagonistic interaction between Al or Mnco-application. The experiment consisted of 9 treatments including co-application of Al and Mn. Overall, we conclude that increasing exogenous Al or Mn concentration negatively affected phenol and flavonoid contents, increased lignin and callose content, disturbed cell ultra-structure in barley genotypes, with sensitive genotype ZU9 being more affected than XZ16. Mn did not influence organic acids secretion and down regulated Mn tolerance genes and organic acid exudation linked genes while Al addition induced the expression of OAs linked genes, OAs secretion were activated and upregulated Mn tolerance genes. Furthermore, co treatments of Al and Mn restored the abnormalities induced by sole Al or Mn application.
Keywords: Aluminum; Antagonism; Citrate; Manganese; Organic acids.
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