Effect of aluminium toxicity on GI tagged Kachai lemon seedlings

An experiment was performed to understand the effects of aluminium toxicity (AlCl₃·6H₂O) on Kachai lemon growth and development. The toxic effects of aluminium were assessed for 45 days in sand media. With untreated pots serving as the control, seedlings of 1 month old were exposed to three concentrations of AlCl₃·6H₂O: 300 μM, 600 μM and 900 μM. The nutrient Hoagland solution was also given to seedlings along with the Aluminium (Al) treatment. The outcome demonstrated that the chlorophyll content and carotenoids declined with the increase of the concentration levels of AlCl₃·6H₂O and interval of treatment. The contents of O₂ ^·- (Super oxide anion), H₂O₂ (Hydrogen peroxide) and OH (Hydroxyl radical) in seedlings increased with the higher concentration levels of aluminium and longer exposure to Al. Additionally, the activity of the enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase and glutathione reductase were increased in seedlings. Different non-enzymatic antioxidants' actions like tocopherol and Vitamin C played important defence mechanisms for the maintenance of tolerance in aluminium toxicity by increasing their content with an increase in the concentration of treatment levels in Kachai Lemon.