Aluminium tolerance in the tropical leguminous N2-fixing shrub Acaciella angustissima (Mill.) Britton & Rose inoculated with Sinorhizobium mexicanum

Authors

Departamento de Biotecnología Vegetal, Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Carretera Panamericana km 1080, C.P. 29050.Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México
Laboratorio de Ecología de Suelos, Cinvestav, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, C.P. 07360 México D.F., México
Departamento de Biotecnología Vegetal, Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Carretera Panamericana km 1080, C.P. 29050.Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México
Departamento de Biotecnología Vegetal, Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Carretera Panamericana km 1080, C.P. 29050.Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México
Laboratorio de Ecología de Suelos, Cinvestav, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, C.P. 07360 México D.F., México

Keywords:

Aluminium tolerance, plant growth, nodulation, nitrogen and tannins content, Sinorhizobium mexicanum ITTG R7T, soil

Abstract

The tropical legume Acaciella angustissima inoculated with or without Sinorhizobium mexicanum ITTG R7T strain was cultivated in an aluminium (Al) spiked soil to study its tolerance towards this metal. Seedlings of A. angustissima were grown in soil with 0, 2, 4 or 6 mg Al kg-1. The effect of Al and inoculation on growth, nodulation, and nitrogen and tannins content in the plants was monitored. Height and total and dry root weight of plantlets decreased significantly when soil was spiked with Al, but increased when inoculated. Al decreased the number of nodules. Inoculum increased total N and tannin content of the plantlets. It was found that Al reduced the growth of the tropical leguminous N2-fixing shrub A. angustissima, while inoculation with S. mexicanum ITTG R7T stimulated its growth and increased its tannin and N content.