© 1986 Heron Publishing—Victoria, Canada
Effects of aluminum on growth, development, and nutrient composition of honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos L.) seedlings
F. C. Thornton, M. Schaedle and D. J. Raynal
College of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA /
Summary
Hydroponic experiments were conducted to determine the effects of aluminum (Al) on root development, shoot morphology and
the nutrient composition of honeylocust seedlings (Gleditsia triacanthos L.). Seedlings were grown at pH 4 in a nutrient solution containing 0, 50, 150, 600 or 1500 μM Al. Within seven days, there
were significant differences in root growth and root nutrient composition between control seedlings and seedlings grown in
the presence of 150 or 600 μM Al. By day 14, significant reductions in leaf production and plant height were observed in seedlings
treated with 1500 μM Al. At the lowest Al concentration, 50 μM, leaf size and expansion rates were significantly lower than
in the controls. By the third week of the experiment, Ca and Mg concentrations in young leaves of the Al-treated seedlings
were significantly lower than in leaves of control plants. Analysis of old leaf tissue, however, revealed no consistent pattern
of nutrient concentration with Al treatment.
