The effects of pre-aluminum treatment on morphology and physiology of potential acidic slope plants
Keywords:
Acidic slopes, acidic-tolerant plants, aluminium treatment, soil rehabilitation, slope stability.Abstract
High temperature and rainfall contribute in turning most of the slope soils acidicin countries like Malaysia. Acidic slope again contributes in a low plant coverage,high eroding potential and instability of slopes. In this context, this study aims atinvestigating the effects of pre-Aluminum treatment on the growth and developmentof selected plants on acidic slope. The acidic-tolerant characteristics of Acaciamangium, Leucaena leucocephala and Melastoma malabathricum were determinedby subjecting them into pre-Aluminum treatment at germination phase. The resultsshowed that M. malabathricum exhibited the highest morphological parameters;root length and dry weight partitioning and physiological performance includingphotosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, Leaf Area Index (LAI),and leaf Aluminum analyses. Within ten weeks of observation, the Al-pretreated M.malabathricum showed the highest photosynthetic and transpiration rates as comparedto L. leucocephala and A. mangium. Simultaneously, stomatal conductance wasfound to be the highest in M. malabathricum. Moreover, within ten weeks, soil pHplanted with M. malabathricum increased by 23.8% and was found to be the highestamong the species studied, implying the rehabilitation capacity of this species. TheAl-pretreated M. malabathricum also displayed the longest root length in acidic soilexhibiting a tolerance mechanism towards soil acidity. Amongst the species studied,M. malabathricum, either treated or non-treated, exhibited the best morphological andphysiological performances on acidic conditions.
References
Abraham, J.M., Richard, B.P., Pamela, H.T., Sarah, R. & Sharda, M. (2009) Long-term relationship
among atmospheric CO2, stomata, and intrinsic water use efficiency in individual trees. American
Journal of Botany. 96:1779-1786.
Ainsworth, E.A. & Rogers, A. (2007) The response of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance to rising
(CO2): Mechanisms and environmental interactions. Plant, Cell and Environment, 30:258-270.
Al-Bader, D.A., Shuail, D.A., Al-Hasan, R. & Suleman, P. (2014) Intertidal seagrass Halodule uninervis:
Factors controlling its density, biomass and shoot length. Kuwait Journal of Science, 41(1):171-
Bochet, E. & García-Fayos, P. (2004) Factors controlling vegetation establishment and water erosion on
motorway slopes in Valencia, Spain. Restoration Ecology, 12:166-174.
Copeland, S.M., Bruna, E.M. Barbosa Silva, L.V. Mack, M.C. & Vasconcelos, H.L. (2012) Short-term
effects of elevated precipitation and nitrogen on soil fertility and plant growth in a Neotropical
savanna. Ecosphere, 3(4):31.
Cruden, D.M. & Varnes, D. (1996) Landslide types and processes. In: Turner A.K.; Shuster R.L. (eds)
Landslides: Investigation and Mitigation. National Research Council, Transportation Research
Board, Special Report, 247:36–75.
Dashti, N.H., Montasser, M.S., Ali, N.Y. & Cherian, V.M. (2014) Influence of plant growth promoting
rhizobacteria on fruit yield, pomological characteristics and chemical contents in cucumber mosaic
virus-infected tomato plants. Kuwait Journal of Science, 41(2):205-220.
Dhiman, A., Nanda, A. & Ahmad, S. (2011) Metal analysis in Citrus sinensis fruit peel and Psidium
guajava leaf. Toxicology International, 18(2):163-167.
Dobermann, A. & Fairhurst, T. (2000) Nutrient disorder and nutrient management. Handbook Series.
Norcoss Georgia, Potash and Phosphate Institute (PPI). Potash and Phosphate Institute Canada
(PPIC) and International Rice Research Institute, USA.
Eleftheriou, E.P., Moustakas, M. & Fragiskos, N. (1993) Aluminate-induced changes in morphology
and ultrastructure of Thinopyrum roots. Journal of Experimental Botany, 44(2):427-436.
Fuentes, J.P., Bezdicek, D.F., Flury, M., Albrecht, S. & Smith, J.L. (2006) Microbial activity affected
by lime in a long-term no-till soil. Soil and Tillage Research, 88(1–2):123-131.
Hamlyn, G.J. (1998) Stomatal control of photosynthesis and transpiration. Journal of Experimental
Botany, 49:387-398.
Harter, R.D. (2002) Acid soils of the tropics. ECHO technical note. University of New Hampshire. pp. 8.
Hetherington, A.M. & Woodward, F.I. (2003) The role of stomata in sensing and driving environmental
change. Nature, 424:901-908.
Huat, B. B.K. & Kazemian, S. (2010) Study of root theories in green tropical slope stability. Electronic
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 15:825-1834.
Jansen, S., Broadley, M.R. Robbrecht E. & Smets, E. (2002) Aluminium hyperaccumulation in
Angiosperms: A review of its phylogenetic significance. The Botanical Review, 68:235-269.
Jansen, S., Watanabe, T., Dessein, S., Smets, E. & Robbrecht, A. (2003) A comparative study of metal
levels in leaves of some Al-accumulating Rubiaceae. Annals of Botany, 91:657-663.
Jarvis, A.J. & Davies, W.J. (1997) The Coupled Response of Stomatal Conductance to Photosynthesis
and Transpiration. Journal of Experimental Botany, 49:399-406.
Kidd, P.S. & Proctor, J. (2001) Why plants grow poorly on very acid soils: are ecologist missing the
obvious? Journal of Experimental Botany, 52:791-799.
Kikui, S., Sasaki, T., Maekawa, A., Miyao, M. & Hirochika, H. et al. (2005) Physiological and genetic
analyses of aluminium tolerance in rice, focusing on root growth during germination. Journal of
Inorganic Biochemistry, 99(9):1837-1844.
Kochian, L.V., Pineros, M.A. & Hoekenga, O.A. (2005) The physiology, genetics and molecular biology
of plant aluminum resistance and toxicity. Plant and Soil, 274:175-195.
Kochian, L.V., Hoekenga, O.A. & Pineros, M.A. (2004) How do crop plants tolerate acid soils?
Mechanism of aluminum tolerance and phosphorus efficiency. Annual Review of Plant Physiology
and Plant Molecular Biology, 55:459–493.
Komoo, I., Aziz, S. & Sian, L.C. (2011) Incorporating the Hyogo Framework for Action into landslide
disaster risk reduction in Malaysia. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, 57:7-11.
Koutika, L.S., Sanginga, N., Vanlauwe, B. & Weise, S. (2002) Chemical properties and soil organic matter
assessment in fallow systems in the forest margins benchmark. Soil Biology and Biochemistry,
(6):757–765.
Ma, J., Hiradate, S. Nomoto, K. Iwashita, T. & Matsumoto, H. (1997) Internal detoxification mechanism
of Al in hydrangea: identification of Al form in leaves. Plant Physiology, 113:1033-1039.
Ma, J., Hiradate, S. & Matsumoto, H. (2002) High aluminium resistance in buckwheat II. Oxalic acid
detoxifies aluminium internally. Plant Physiology, 117:753-759.
Mafian, S., Huat, B.B.K. Rahman, N.A. & Sing, H. (2009) Potential plant species for live pole
application in tropical environment. American Journal of Environmental Sciences, 5:759-764.
Misawa, S., Osaki, M. & Watanabe, T. (2005) Aluminium accumulation in the roots of Melastoma
malabathricum, an accumulating plant. Canadian Journal of Botany, 83(11):1518-1522.
Mugagga, F., Kakembo, V. & Buyinza, M. (2012) A characterisation of the physical properties of soil
and the implications for landslide occurrence on the slopes of Mount Elgon, Eastern Uganda.
Natural Hazards, 60:1113-1131.
Normaniza, O. & Barakbah, S.S. (2006) Parameters to predict slope stability—Soil water and root
profiles. Ecological Engineering, 28:90-95.
Normaniza, O. & Barakbah, S.S. (2011) The effect of plant succession on slope stability. Ecological
Engineering, 37:139-147.
Normaniza, O., Faisal H.A. & Barakbah, S.S. (2008) Engineering properties of Leucaena leucocephala
for prevention of slope failure. Ecological Engineering, 32:215-221.
Normaniza, O., Saifuddin, M. & Aimee, H. (2014) Contribution of vegetation to alleviate slope’s erosion
and acidity. In Maria C. Hern ez-Soriano (Eds.), Environmental risk assessment of soil contamination
(pp. 519-543). Rijeka, Croatia, INTECH. ISBN 978-953-51-1235-8. doi: 10.5772/57228.
Pradhan, B., Chaudhari, A. Adinarayana, J. & Buchroithner, M. (2012) Soil erosion assessment and
its correlation with landslide events using remote sensing data and GIS: a case study at Penang
Island, Malaysia. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 184(2):715-727.
Prasetyo, T. (2007) Effects of Al on root morphology and physiology of two maize hybrids. Faculty of
Agriculture. M.Sc. Thesis. Unpublished.
(Spartium junceum L.). Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 13:1713-1726.
Rohailah, M.I. (2011) Rehabilitation of acidic soil using potential slope plants. M.Sc. Thesis. University
of Malaya.
Saifuddin, M., Normaniza, O. Rahman, M.M. & Amru, N.B. (2015) Soil reinforcement capability of
two legume species from plant morphological traits and mechanical properties. Current Science,
(7):1340-1347.
Saifuddin, M., Normaniza, O. & Rahman, M.M. (2013) Influence of different cutting positions and
rooting hormones on root initiation and root-soil matrix of two tree species. International Journal of
Agriculture and Biology, 15:427-434.
Saifuddin, M. & Normaniza, O. (2014a) Evaluation of hydro-mechanical properties and root architecture
of plants for soil reinforcement. Current Science. 107:845-852.
Saifuddin, M. & Normaniza, O. (2014b) Hydrological and mechanical properties of plants to predict
suitable legume species for reinforcing soil. Chinese Science Bulletin, 59:5123-5128.
Saifuddin, M. & Normaniza, O. (2012) Physiological and root profile studies of four legume tree species.
Life Science Journal, 9(4):1509-1518.
Shafie, A. (2009) A Case study on floods of 2006 and 2007 in Johor, Malaysia. Colorado State University
Song, Y.S., Hong, W.P. & Woo, K.S. (2012) Behavior and analysis of stabilizing piles installed in a cut
slope during heavy rainfall. Engineering Geology, 129–130:56-67.
Tolrà, R.P., Poschenrieder, C., Luppi, B. & Barcelò, J. (2005) Aluminium-induced changes in the
profiles of both organic acids and phenolic substances underlie Al tolerance in Rumex acetosa L.
Environmental and Experimental Botany, 54:231-238.
Vitorello, V.A., Capaldi, F.R. & Stefanuto, V.A. (2005) Recent advances in aluminium toxicity and
resistance in higher plants. Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology, 17:129-143.
Wang, J., Raman, H., Zhang, G., Mendham, N. & Zou, M. (2006) Aluminum tolerance in barely
(Horidium vulgarie L.): Physiological mechanisms, genetics and screening methods. Journal of
Zhejiang University Science, 7:769-787.
Watanabe, T., Osaki, M. & Tadano, T. (2000) Effect of aluminium on growth of melastoma (Melastoma
malabathricum L). Proceedings of the international symposium on impact of potential tolerance of
plants on the increased productivity under Aluminium stress. Karuizawa, Japan. 15-16 September
Pp. 45-50.
Watanabe, T., Osaki, M. & Tadano, T. (2001) Al uptake kinetics in roots of melastoma malabathricum
L. – an Al accumulator plant. Plant and Soil, 231:283-291.
Watanabe, T., Misawa, S. Hiradate, S. & Osaki, M. (2008) Root mucilage enhances Aluminium
accumulation in Melastoma malabathricum, an Aluminium accumulator. Plant Signaling and
Behavior, 3(8):603-605.
Yang, L., Liu, N., Ren, H. & Wang, J. (2009) Facilitation by two exotic Acacia: Acacia auriculiformis
and Acacia mangium as nurse plants in South China. Forest Ecology and Management, 257(8):1786-
Zsoldos, F., Vashengyi, A. Pecsvaradi, A. & Bona, L. (2003) Influence of silicon on aluminum toxicity
in common and durum wheat. Agronomy, 23:349-354.
