Overview on Research of Al-Induced Plant Organic Acid Secretion

Soil soluble aluminum (Al3+) is toxic to plants, and inhibits the growth of plant in acid soils. The Al-activated exudation of organic acid from root apex to rhizosphere which release non-toxic complexes with Al3+ ions prevents Al entry into the roots. In this review, we summarized the research progresses in plant response to Al stress with an emphasis on the change of organic acid metabolism-related enzyme activities and their gene expression, as well as the effects of reversible phosphorylation of proteins on the regulation of Al-activated anion channel, effects of IAA on the regulation of organic acid recreation under Al stress. We prospect that to provide scientific basis for Al-induced organic acid regulation mechanism. We also think that research of function of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in IAA-regulated Al-induced malic acid exudation will be the research focus in future.