Resumen

LANDA CONTRERAS, Rodolfo et al. Cations concentration in common bean in response to aluminum. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2010, vol.28, n.2, pp.119-127. ISSN 2395-8030.

In Mexico, different varieties of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are cultivated on acid soils with high contents of soluble aluminum (Al³⁺), but these varieties have not been evaluated for their tolerance to Al. Therefore, in this research the effect of three concentrations of Al³⁺ (0, 50 and 100 μM) in the nutrient solution on the concentration of potassium, calcium and magnesium (K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) cations in planta, in 3 Mexican varieties of common bean (Jamapa, Medellín and Grijalva) was assessed. After 23 days of Al treatment, plants were harvested and divided into leaves, stems and roots, and cation concentrations contained in each organ was determined. Concentration of Al³⁺ significantly affected cation concentration in leaves, stems and roots. The factor variety did not affect Ca²⁺ concentration in any plant organ studied, while K⁺ and Mg²⁺ concentrations showed significant differences due to the factor variety. Interaction between factors significantly affected Ca²⁺ in the 3 organs evaluated. Al³⁺ concentration drastically reduced concentration of K⁺ in both stems and roots, which was more notable in Medellín. Ca²⁺ concentration showed a similar tendency as that observed in K⁺ in the presence of Al in both varieties Jamapa and Medellín; conversely, Ca²⁺ concentration increased in leaves of the variety Grijalva when it was treated with 100 μM de Al³⁺. Mg²⁺ concentration did not decrease in any organ as an effect of Al; instead, in the variety Grijalva its concentration in leaves of plants treated with 100 μM Al³+ was 23% higher than that showed in control plants. We conclude that the variety Grijalva was less affected by Al³⁺ concentration in the nutrient solution and that the variety Medellín was less tolerant to Al.

Palabras llave : Phaseolus vulgaris; aluminum toxicity; potassium; calcium; magnesium.