Identification of two chickpea multidrug and toxic compound extrusion transporter genes transcriptionally upregulated upon aluminum treatment in root tips.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity poses a significant challenge for the yield improvement of chickpea, which is an economically important legume crop with high nutritional value in human diets. The genetic basis of Al-tolerance in chickpea remains unclear. Here, we assessed the Al-tolerance of 8 wild and one cultivated chickpea (PBA Pistol) accessions by measuring the root elongation in solution culture under control (0 μM Al) and Al treatments (15, 30 μM Al).

Novel Sources of Tolerance to Aluminium Toxicity in Wild ( and ) Collections.

In acid soils, the toxic form of aluminium, Al, significantly inhibits root growth and elongation, leading to less water and nutrient uptake. Previous research had shown differential Al toxicity tolerance among cultivated L. (chickpea); however, the potential for developing tolerant cultivars is limited by the narrow genetic diversity of cultivated chickpeas.

Variation of Germplasm to Manganese Toxicity Tolerance.

After aluminum, manganese toxicity is the most limiting factor for crops grown in acidic soils worldwide. But overall, research on Mn toxicity is still limited. The poor acid tolerance of chickpea may be related to Mn toxicity, but there has been no previous screening of chickpea germplasm (nor in its wild relatives, and ) for tolerance to Mn toxicity.

Genotypic variation among chickpea and wild Cicer spp. in nutrient uptake with increasing concentration of solution Al at low pH.

In many acidic soils, high concentrations of toxic Al hamper plant growth by restricting root growth which in turn restricts water and nutrient absorption. Previous research showed variation among chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and wild Cicer species in root elongation at 15 μM Al or more, but effects on nutrient absorption have not been examined.

The Park Grass Experiment and next-generation approaches: local adaptation of sweet vernal grass revisited.

Long-term ecological experiments provide unique opportunities to observe the effects of natural selection. The Park Grass Experiment at Rothamsted Experiment Station in Hertfordshire, UK, is the longest running ecological experiment that incorporates fertilization treatments and has been ongoing since 1856. In the 1970s, local adaptation was observed in the grass Anthoxanthum odoratum to the elevated soil aluminium levels of the fertilized plots.