Plant traits for evaluation of responses of sorghum genotypes to aluminum

Summary

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes known to respond to Al toxicity in acid soils were grown in nutrient solutions with Al and measurements of roots related to differential responses to Al were made. Traits assessed were final seminal, net seminal, relative net seminal, total adventitious, mean adventitious, longest adventitious root lengths, number of adventitious roots, and shoot and root dry and fresh matter yields. Longest adventitious root and net seminal root lengths were the most sensitive plant traits for assessment of sorghum plant responses to Al. Longest adventitious root length required only one measurement at the end of the treatment and net seminal root length required two measurements at the time plants were treated and after treatment. The nondestructable root measurements for Al toxicity tolerance might be useful in genetic and plant breeding studies to allow better asessment of adaptation to the stresses of Al toxicity in acid soils.