MOLECULAR AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ARABIDOPSIS MUTANTS EXHIBITING ALTERED SENSITIVITIES TO ALUMINUM

Arabidopsis mutants with altered Al sensitivities have been isolated w ith the goal of identifying genes important for Al resistance and toxi city. By screening in a high-Al environment, seven Al-resistant mutant s (air) were isolated. The air mutants were semi-dominant and constitu te at least two unique loci in Arabidopsis. Nine Al-sensitive mutants (als) were also isolated. Complementation analysis revealed that of th e nine als mutants, eight represent unique loci, indicating that Al se nsitivity is genetically complex in Arabidopsis. The characterization of mutants with altered Al sensitivity will provide greater insights i nto the mechanisms of Al toxicity and resistance on a molecular and bi ochemical level.