A single-population GWAS identified expression level polymorphism caused by promoter variants is associated with variation in aluminum tolerance in a local population.

Organic acids (OA) are released from roots in response to aluminum (Al), conferring an Al tolerance to plants that is regulated by OA transporters such as ALMT (Al-activated malate transporter) and multi-drug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE). We have previously reported that the expression level polymorphism (ELP) of is strongly associated with variation in Al tolerance among natural accessions of Arabidopsis. However, although is also expressed following Al exposure and contributes to Al tolerance, whether contributes to the variation of Al tolerance and the molecular mechanisms of ELP remains unclear.