Studies on Mechanisms of Aluminium Tolerance in Citrus species.

The present study was taken to understand the mechanisms involved during Al stress in Citrus species. In this investigation, two month old seedlings of 4 citrus species namely, Rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri), Pumello (Citrus grandis), Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) and Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) were germinated hydroponically and allowed to establish in sand media. The seedlings were given different treatment levels of aluminium (200µmol/L, 400µmol/L and 600µmol/L) as nutrient solution and untreated plants (nutrient solution without aluminium) of each species were maintained as control. These seedlings were then uprooted after 24 hours, 15 days and 30 days after the imposition of the treatments whereby they were subjected to comparative analysis of their physical and biochemical parameters. The study was arranged in completely randomised design, with 3 replicates comprising of 30 plants per replication.