Aluminum-induced decrease in CO2 assimilation in citrus seedlings is unaccompanied by decreased activities of key...

'Cleopatra' tangerine (Citrus reshni Hort. ex Tanaka) seedlings were irrigated daily for 8 weeks with 1/4 strength Hoagland's nutrient solution containing 0 (control) or 2 mM aluminum (Al). Leaves from Al-treated plants had decreased CO2 assimilation and stomatal conductance, but increased intercellular CO2 concentrations compared with control leaves. On a leaf area basis, 2 mM Al increased activities of key enzymes in the Calvin cycle, including ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), NADP-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), phosphoribulokinase (PRK), stromal fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), and a key enzyme in starch synthesis, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), compared with control leaves. Aluminum had no effect on cytosolic FBPase activity, but it decreased sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity. Aluminum had no effect on area-based concentrations of carbohydrates, glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) and fructose 6-phosphate (F6P) or the G6P:F6P ratio, but it decreased the area-based concentration of 3-phosphoglycerate (PGA). Photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) and electron transport rate through PSII were greatly reduced by Al. Non-photochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ) was less affected by Al than qP and electron transport rate through PSII. We conclude that the reduced rate of CO2 assimilation in Al-treated leaves was probably caused by a combination of factors such as reduced electron transport rate through PSII, increased closure of PSII reaction centers and increased photorespiration.