THE EFFECT OF ALUMINIUM ON GROWTH PLANT

By :
Nahdlini Salma Sabila (B1B017002)
Pratiwi Kusuma Kurniawati (B1B017007)
Mellya Rizki Pitriani (B1B017031)
Fakhri Naufal Ramadhan (B1B017022)
Group :2
Entourage : D1
Assistant : Juniar Susiani

PRACTICAL REPORT OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY II

MINISTRY OF RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY AND HIGHER EDUCATION

JENDERAL SOEDIRMAN UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF BIOLOGY
PURWOKERTO
2019
 I. INTRODUCTION

A. Background

Chili (Capsicum annum L.) is a warm-weather plant that is widely consumed

throughout the world. Phenolic compounds, capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-
noneamide), provide a spicy and chili flavor. Chili is rich in carotene, vitamin C, and
antioxidants. Through 2007-2011, California was the largest producer (51%) of chili
in the US, followed by Florida (26%). The world production and hence consumption
of fresh chili (along with Capsicum frutescen and Pimenta officinalis) has
consistently increased at a rate of around 3% every year over the past decade, with
world production of around 32 million tons in 2014 (Rawat et al., 2017).
Plant growth is controlled by internal factors, and also external factors. One
of these external factors is essential nutrients. Essential nutrients are elements needed
for plant growth. If these elements are not available to plants, the plants will show
symptoms of lack of these elements and plant growth will be inhibited. Based on the
amount needed, nutrients are divided into macro nutrients and micro nutrients. Macro
nutrients are needed by plants in larger quantities (0.5-3% of plant body weight).
While micro nutrients are needed by plants in relatively small amounts
(Dwidjoseputro, 1989).
Nutritional status in plants is best reflected by the nutrient content of the
leaves compared to other organs. Leaves are usually most often used as samples in
plant analysis. Some types of plants and certain types of nutrients sometimes contain
different sheets of leaves. Fruit plants are often the best indicator, especially for
calcium and boron which are closely related to fruit quality and storage power
(Duncan, 1990). Although abundantly present in all terrestrial biomes, aluminium
(Al) is typically absent as nutrient and as trace element within biochemical pathways
of the living biosphere. It is considered to be phytotoxic to the majority of plants if
the soil pH decreases below 5.5. , which causes Al to become soluble while changing
its hydroxide form Al(OH)3 to toxic forms such as Al(OH)2+, Al(OH)2+ and Al3+
(Schmitt et al., 2016).
The first reaction of plants grown on soils with elevated Al concentration was
a decreasing root growth. . Exposed to Al, seedlings exhibited a reduced leaf size,
and terminal buds, some plant species and cultivars show tolerance to Al toxicity.
The mechanism of Al tolerance has been categorised into external or exclusion and
internal detoxification mechanism. An early study in wheat (Triticum aestivum)
reported that organic acids play a role both in Al exclusion, via release from root and
Al detoxification in the symplasm, where organic acid such as citric acid and malic
acid could chelate Al and reduce or prevent its toxic effects at the cellular level, in
particular protecting enzyme activity internally in the plant from deleterious effect of
Al. In plants like maize, the Al-induced citric acid exudation responses are regarded
as a potential Al-exclusion mechanism. However, the type and amount of organic
acids released in response to Al vary widely among plant species and even cultivars
within species. In addition, aluminium has also been observed to increase free
proline concentrations under acidic condition in maize and plantago almogravensis
and Plantago algarbiensis (Ma et al., 2018).

B. Purpose

The purpose of this practical activity is to know the influence of aluminium

on the growth of plants at different concentration.
 II. LITERATURE OF REVIEW

According to Noggle (1983), nutrients are various minerals contained in the

soil needed by plants to carry out photosynthesis. Nutrients can also be in the form of
food juices in liquid form. This liquid form mineral can be absorbed by the roots to
be channeled to the leaf's green matter. Nutrients as a source of food needed by
plants. Plants need complete nutrition to grow healthily and optimally. Soil as a
planting medium plays an important role to determine the quality and productivity of
plant growth because the soil serves as a store of food resources for plants.
Based on the number of plant needs for essential nutrient, the essential
nutrient are classified into two major groups, namely macronutrient and
micronutrient. Macronutrients, these elements are found by Sach and Knop using
solution culture. They explained that the elements of Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen,
Oxygen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Sulfur, Magnesium and Ferrum. The
micronutrient was first discovered by Bertran, that the element of Manganese for
normal growth. In 1939, elements of Manganese, Zinkum, Boron, Cuprum, were
found in various types of plants (Devlin, 1995). The elements needed in large
quantities by plants are called macronutrients, while the elements needed in small
amounts are called micronutrients. Macronutrients function as supporting growth,
while micronutrients function for enzyme activity and also play a role in plant
metabolic processes. The two nutrient groups together are often referred to as
essential elements. So named because these two groups of elements are elements that
should not be absent in plant nutrition. One of these elements is not present in its
nutrition, it will cause growth and metabolism in plants to be disrupted, and can even
cause death for these plants (Dwidjoseputro, 1989).
Aluminium is found in nature, mostly in the form of aluminium silicates, a
trace amount of element is required to carry out the biological processes by living
organisms. The metal exists in the þ2 and þ3 states, thus having high affinity toward
negatively charged ions and ionic groups such as fluoride (F-) and hydroxyl group
(OH‾), respectively (Imadi et al., 2016). Al is known as an inhibitory element for the
growth of plants, especially in acidic soils with pH values as low as 5 or 5.5 where
the most phytotoxic form of aluminium (Al3+) is prevalent (Emamverdian et al.,
2015).
 Aluminium is the most abundant metal on earth and it is the third most
abundant element (after oxygen and silicon) in the earth’s crust, representing
approximately 8.1% of its content in weight. Despite being ubiquitous and available
during the life cycle of plants, Al has no specific biological function. Organisms are
not usually exposed to relevant concentrations of Al in the soil as it is mainly found
in the form of a mineral (aluminosilicates and aluminium oxides). However, in
aqueous solutions and at different pH, Al hydrolyzes water affected at high
concentrations, inhibition of root growth at low concentrations or short time periods,
but little or no effect at high concentrations or long time periods. A fourth response is
presented in genotypes where root growth is not affected even at very high
concentrations of Al, indicating that different plant species differ in their response
mechanisms to stress by Al at cellular and tissue levels, as well as whole-plant level
(Bojórquez-Quintal et al., 2017). Aluminium contained in soil solutions is generally
2+
found in various forms such as Al (OH) and Al (OH) 2+ at soil pH around 4-5, Al3+
4-
at pH 5,5-7, and Al (OH) at pH 7-8. Other ion complexes such as Al 4Al12 (OH)
24(H2O) 7+ 12(Al3) and Al3+ are almost always poisoning, but there is no rhizocyticity
due to AlSO4 + and Al (SO 4) 2- or Al-F like AlF2+ and AlF2+. Al (OH) 2+ and Al (OH)
2+
statuses were erratic in each trial but indicated as Al -OH poisoning (Kinraide,
1997).
Beneficial effect of aluminium in plant are stimulate plant growth (root and
shoot), promote nutrient uptake, increases defense pathogen, prevent abiotic and
biotic stresses, increased metabolism and antioxidant activity, and modulate colour
flowers. In stimulate plant growth, aluminium stimulate the synthesis of root biomass
at low level, prevention of H+ toxicity and an increase in root elongation induced by
Al, root growth is stimulated in the presence of Al, while in the absence of the metal,
growth of the root and plants is delayed. One of the possible reasons explaining the
stimulation of plant growth induced by Al is the promotion of nutrient uptake. In
hyperaccumulator plants, Al can stimulate or have no effect on essential nutrient
uptake. In different plant species, nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K)
uptake has been considered the mechanism responsible for the stimulation of root
growth induced by Al. The beneficial elements, including Al, can increase tolerance
to abiotic stress (ion toxicity and nutrient deficiency) and resistance to biotic stress
(herbivores and pathogens). Stimulation of root growth by Al is associated with an
increase in the activation of nitrate reductase and the photosynthetic rate. The
beneficial effect of Al on plants has also been associated with the regulation of C and
N metabolism. Aluminum plays an important role in the color changes of some
hyperaccumulator plants. Al and pH are important factors for the change of color in
the sepals, from red to blue. The blue coloring is formed from the union of Al with
metalloanthocyanins, delphinidin 3-glucoside and 5-Ocaffeoylquinic acid
(Bojórquez-Quintal et al., 2017).
The disadvantages of aluminium in plant is aluminium can give toxicity
effect on plant. Aluminium can inhibit the growth of root, inhibit water and nutrient
uptake, can stimulate lipid peroxidation, inhibit of cell division, and modify the
skeleton of plant. Aluminum also decreases root respiration, interferes with enzymes
governing the deposition of polysaccharides in cell walls, decreases the synthesis and
transport of cytokinins, and modifies the structure and function of plasma
membranes which interfere with the uptake, transport, and use of multiple elements
(Ca, Mg, P, and K), as well as water uptake by roots plants (Bojórquez-Quintal et al.,
2017). Aluminium toxicity (Al) is the main cause of reduced growth and productivity
of agricultural crops in acid soils. At pH below 5, Al3+ is the dominant form in the
soil and is toxic to many plants. Aluminium interferes with the function of the cell
wall, plasma, and signal transduction pathway just hours after the root is gripped by
Al (Tistama et al., 2017).
As a result of aluminium toxicity, root elongation is reduced because of a
reduction in mitotic activity. Aluminium-induced inhibition of root growth in
aluminium-sensitive plants may be due to disruption of both cell division in the
meristematic region and cell expansion in the elongation zone in roots. Aluminium
causes many morphological changes in root surface of different plants. It has been
shown that exposure to aluminium results in decreased turgescence of epidermal
cells of root tip and elongating regions, formation of a high amount of small
depressions in elongating regions, destruction of epidermal cells and outer cortex
cells in tip and elongation region, and formation of cross-sectional cracks in the inner
cortex of roots (Imadi et al., 2016).
Recent research on aluminum stress, plants generally respond to Al stress by
increasing the secretion of organic acids. Oxalate secretion in the sorghum root
increases with increasing Al stress, but the oxalate secretion decreases with the
administration of phosphorus. It is suspected that Al is bound P so that the need for
plants to produce organic acids is reduced. This causes a little energy needed to
detoxify Al. P plays a role in Al tolerance in soybeans. An efficient genotype P may
be able to increase Al through the interaction of Al-P, but also through direct
interaction with the secretion of organic acids that clog Al (Lestari et al., 2017).
 III. MATERIALS AND METHODS

A. Material

The tools that we used in this practical lab activity are Polybag, Ruler, Paper
label, Pens, and measuring cup
The material that we used in this practical lab activity are Chilli (Capsicum
annum) Al-amonium sulfat: (NH4)Al(SO4)2. 12H2O

B. Methods

Al2(SO4)3 prepared 50ml Al2(SO4)3 are Observed 4 weeks

(0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2) g/kg poured to polybag
Parameter:

- Stem length

- Root length
 III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

A. Result

Table 4.1 Observation of Aluminium Plant Height in Chilli (Capsicum annum)

Repeteion of- Averag

Treatment 1 2 3 4 5 Total e
12,
0 g/kg 6 28,5 38 28,6 36,8 144,5 28,9
15,
0.4 g/kg 5 35,3 42 35,8 42 170,6 34,12
15,
0.8 g/kg 3 38,5 42,5 46,6 26,2 169,1 33,82
15,
1.2 g/kg 2 42,5 37 43,5 33,4 171,6 34,32
58, 144, 159, 154, 138,
TOTAL 6 8 5 5 4 655,8 131,16

Table 4.2 Analyses of Variance Plant Height in Chilli (Capsicum annum)

Source of F table
Diversity Db JK KT F Count 0,05 0,01
Treatment 3 4402,2504 1467 11,33 ** 3,24 5,29
Galat 16 2072,684 129,5        
Total 19 6474,9344          
LSD 15685,3
Description :
Ns : Not Significant
* : Significant
* : More Significant

Table 4.3 Least Significant Difference (LSD/BNT) Plant Height in Chilli

(Capsicum annum)
0 g/kg 0.8 g/kg 0.4 g/kg 1.2 g/kg
Treatmen Notatio Notatio 34,1 34,3
t Mean 28,9 n 33,82 n 2 Notation 2 Notation
0 g/kg 28,9 0 ns -4,92 ns -5,22 ns -5,42 ns
0 g/kg 33,82 4,92 ns 0 ns -0,3 ns -0,5 ns
0.4 g/kg 34,12 5,22 ns 0,3 ns 0 ns -0,2 ns
1.2 g/kg 34,32 5,42 * 0,5 ns 0,2 ns 0 ns
Description :
Ns : Not Significant
* : Significant
* : More Significant

Table 4.4 Observation of Root Elongation in Chilli (Capsicum annum)

Treatmen Repetetion of- Total Average

t 1 2 3 4 5
0 g/kg 15,5 15 12,5 12 12 67 13,4
0.4 g/kg 11,5 15 9,5 14 12,7 62,7 12,54
0.8 g/kg 16,3 11 8 11 8,5 54,8 10,96
1.2 g/kg 10,5 12 10 13 10 55,5 11,1
TOTAL 53,8 53 40 50 43,2 240 48

Table 4.5 Analyses of Variance Root Elongation in Chilli (Capsicum annum)

Source of F table
Diversity Db JK KT F Count 0,05 0,01
Treatment 3 596,716 198,9053 39,40475 ** 3,24 5,29
Galat 16 80,764 5,04775        
Total 19 677,48          
LSD 3096
Description :
Ns : Not Significant
* : Significant
* : More Significant

Table 4.6 Least Significant Difference (LSD/BNT) Root Elongation in Chilli

(Capsicum annum)
0.8 g/kg 1.2 g/kg 0.4 g/kg 0 g/kg
Treatmen Mea 10,9 Notatio Notatio 12,5 Notatio Notatio
t n 6 n 11,1 n 4 n 13,4 n
10,9
0.8 g/kg 6 0 ns -0,14 ns -1,58 ns -2,44 ns
1.2 g/kg 11,1 0,14 ns 0 ns -1,44 ns -2,3 ns
12,5
0.4 g/kg 4 1,58 ns 1,44 ns 0 ns -0,86 ns
0 g/kg 13,4 2,44 ns 2,3 ns 0,86 ns 0 ns
Description :
Ns : Not Significant
* : Significant
* : More Significant
 Picture 4.1 Plant Height of Chilli (Capsicum annum) 0 weeks

Picture 4.2 Plant Height of Chilli (Capsicum annum) 4 weeks

Picture 4.3 Root Elongation of Chilli (Capsicum annum) 4 weeks

B. Discussion

The initial and most dramatic Al toxicity symptom is the inhibition of root
elongation. Because Al is a highly reactive element, there are innumerable
mechanisms of toxicity involving the cell wall and plasma membrane, where it can
modify its structure, as well as the nearby ionic medium to wall, both disturb the
transport of ions and cause an improper balance of nutrients. In plants these
symptoms are linked to disorders that are generally divided into two categories there
are long-term responses, requiring hours to develop, and short-term responses that
can be measured within a few minutes or even a few seconds after exposure to Al.
The first signs of these responses related to Al toxicity have been observed after one
hour. Moreover, the most important response to the application of Al seems to be
short term interruption of Ca influx through the plasma membrane (Bojórquez-
Quintal et al., 2017).
The symptomatic effects of Al-induced stress on shoots, which are similar to
phosphorus deficiency, may be stunting of leaves, purple discoloration on stems,
leaves, and leaf veins followed by yellowing and dead leaf tips and those that
resemble calcium deficiency can be curling or rolling of young leaves and death of
growing points or petioles. The other visible indications of Al toxicity are the
appearance of small necrotic spots on the border of young leaves and chlorosis in the
margins and center of older leaves (Emamverdian et al., 2015).
Plants have developed different mechanisms of tolerance to counteract the
toxic effects of Al. These mechanisms can be divided into two forms, there are
mechanisms of exclusion or resistance to Al, the function being to avoid or reduce
the entrance of Al to the cell and mechanisms of internal tolerance which
compartmentalize Al in vacuoles or stabilize them in order to inhibit its toxicity.
There are several way tolerance of aluminium through mechanisms of exclusion
among others change in the rhizospheres pH, changes in cell wall composition and
plasma membrane properties, excretion of chelating molecules and mucilage
secretion, cap type structures and border cells in the radical apex, and alleviation of
aluminum-induced toxicity, while the way tolerance of aluminium through
mechanisms of internal tolerance are chelation of aluminum in the cytosol (organic
acids and other organic ligands), the mechanism of internal detoxification of Al
involves the chelation of metal with OA and subsequent sequestration into the
vacuole. Many tolerant plants, including the hyperaccumulators of Al, use the OA for
the sequestration of Al in the cytosol of the root cells and also to remobilize or to
translocate Al toward the shoots.Aluminum Transporters in the plasma membrane
and vacuolar compartmentalization transportation through biological membranes
requires transport proteins. The transporters Nrat1 (Nramp Family) contribute to the
detoxification of Al in plants. The last way is modification of plant metabolism and
DNA checkpoints (Bojórquez-Quintal et al., 2017).
One mechanism for tolerance of plants to Al is to prevent Al from entering
the root tissue or detoxifying Al which has entered the cell and then ejects it. Plants
can detoxify Al by synthesizing and securing organic acids. Attempts to obtain Al-
tolerant plants have been done by expressing excessively the genes that regulate
citric acid synthesis, namely the citrate synthase gene (Tistama et al., 2017).
Efforts to reduce the level of soil acidity through liming can be done if the
saturation level of Al soil is more than 60% and its solubility is also high to toxic
levels for plants. This method aims to neutralize the toxic potential of this element,
with the need for lime generally equivalent to 1.5 x Aldd so that every 1 me Aldd in
the soil requires lime equivalent to 1.5 me lime. The calcification process produces
hydroxyl ions which bind acidic cations (Al and H) to the colloid to be inactive so
that pH rises. The site of the colloidal negative charge is replaced by alkaline cations
(Ca), so base saturation also increases. Although in this reaction 2 molecules of
carbonic acid are produced, because the acid is weak, this acid immediately breaks
down into water and carbon dioxide gas which evaporates into the air (Hanafiah &
Kemas, 2010).
Based on the results obtained at week 0 on the treatment of 0 g / kg plant
height 4.5 cm, 0.4 g / kg plant height 4.7 cm, 0.8 g / kg plant height 4.5 cm, and
treatment 1.2 g / kg 3.5 cm plant height. The results obtained in the 4th week were
treatment 0 g / kg plant height 33 cm, 0.4 g / kg plant height 40 cm, 0.8 g / kg plant
height 43 cm, and plant height treatment 1.2 g / kg 46 cm. Based on the results
obtained at week 4 on the treatment of 0 gr / kg root length of 15 cm, 0.4 g / root
length of 15 cm, 0.8 g / kg root length of 11 cm, and treatment of 1.2 g / kg root
length 12 cm. The results in the Anova table of plant stem extension are very
significant, namely F count (11.33) greater than f table (3.24). This shows that
increasing the length of the chilli stem is caused by the influence of aluminum which
matches its concentration. The most dominant results were found in the treatment of
aluminum 0 g / kg. The results in the root Anova table are very significant, namely F
count (39.40375) greater than f table (3.24). This shows that the extension of the root
is very influential on the concentration of aluminum used. There are no significant
results in the LSD / BNT table. According to Kopittke et al (2015), the speed of Al
using its toxic effects on root elongation suggests that it would be useful to determine
the location of Al at the root tip. Aluminum is a supporting nutrient that is toxic to
plants. Al elements can bind P, Ca, K, and Mg elements so that it is not available
optimally for plants, consequently the growth and development of plants is inhibited
(Mariska & Sukmadjaja, 2003).
 IV. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

A. Conclusion

Based on the results and discussion of the effect of aluminum on plant growth
at different concentrations will lead to different results. The 1.2 g / kg treatment
obtained the highest yield at stem length. The growth of root length is not dominant
in the BNT table and the growth of the high treatment 1.2 g / kg is 34.32 cm.
B. Suggestion
We suggest that, planting chili plants (Capsicum annum) not too close to
other groups to avoid damage because they are attracted or touched by others.
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