Aluminium (Al) toxicity is one of the factors limiting crop production on acid soils and various resistance mechanisms have evolved in plant species. Yang et al. investigate genotypic differences in cultivars of tatary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) and find that an Al exclusion mechanism is involved in resistance. Cell-wall pectin content is generally lower in Al-resistant than in Al-sensitive cultivars, and the degree of methylation of the pectins may play an important role in resistance.
Cell-wall pectin and Al resistance
Aluminium (Al) toxicity is one of the factors limiting crop production on acid soils and various resistance mechanisms have evolved in plant species. Cell-wall pectin content is generally lower in Al-resistant than in Al-sensitive cultivars, and the degree of methylation of the pectins may play an important role in resistance.