Effects of aluminum toxicity on nutrient accumulation in maize shoots: Implications on photosynthesis

The physiological characterization of aluminum (Al) toxicity in C4 plants prompted this study, having maize (Zea mays cv. XL-72.3) used as a test system. Two weeks after germination, maize plants were submitted to increasing Al concentrations (from 0 up to 81 mg L-1) for 20 days in a growth medium with low ionic strength, after which several analyses were carried out. In root tissues, Al concentrations significantly increased between the 0 and the 81 mg L-1 Al treatment. In the shoots nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and iron (Fe) significantly decreased with increasing Al concentrations, but at different rates. Magnesium (Mg) showed a tendency to decrease for Al treatments higher than 9 mg L-1, the opposite occurring with manganese (Mn) contents.