Acidic soil significantly reduces crop productivity mainly due to aluminum (Al) toxicity. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) roots were exposed to aluminum stress (Al3 +) in calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution (pH4.5) and root growth, physiological and antioxidant enzyme responses were investigated. The root growth (length) was significantly inhibited after 48 h of aluminum stress imposition. Histochemical staining with hematoxylin indicated significant accumulation of aluminum in Al stress-treated root tissues. Histochemical assay were also performed to detect superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation, which were found to be more in root tissues treated with higher aluminum concentrations. The enzymatic activity of CAT, POD and GR in root tissues was slightly increased after Al stress treatment. The result suggests that Al stress alters root growth in alfalfa and induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and demonstrates that antioxidant enzymes involved in detoxification of Al-mediated oxidative stress.

Development of shoot and root, leaf water potential and photosynthetic rate affected by water stress in early growing stage of tobacco were surveyed to interpret stress response in terms of plant physiological and agricultural aspects. The growth of shoot and root was highly suppressed by water stress and the difference in dry weight by rewatering was smaller in root than in shoot. The total root length was highly decreased by water stress and the lengths of root for water stress and non-stress were 74m and 84m, respectively, after rewatering. The root growth treated by water stress was increased between 2nd and 3rd day after treatment indicating that temporary water stress at early growing stage might have increased of root zone activity for early growth stage. The leaf water potentials were decreased to -7.63MPa, -9.47MPa, -11.89MPa, -13MPa at the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th day by water stress. The relative water contents were 75%, 62% and 57% at the 3rd, 4th and 5th day after treatment. Photosynthesis was reduced largely by water stress. The photosynthetic rate after treatment at 2nd day and 3rd day was dropped to 18.15~mu mol. CO2 /m2 ㆍsec-1 and 9.35~mu mol. CO2 /m2 ㆍsec-1 . It was never recovered to the normal, even after rewatering. Stomatal conductance had been reduced since 2nd day after treatment and increased after rewatering.