downtoearth-subscribe

The relationship between population structure and aluminum tolerance in cultivated sorghum

Acid soils comprise up to 50% of the world's arable lands and in these areas aluminum (Al) toxicity impairs root growth, strongly limiting crop yield. Food security is thereby compromised in many developing countries located in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. In sorghum, SbMATE, an Al-activated citrate transporter, underlies the AltSB locus on chromosome 3 and confers Al tolerance via Al-activated root citrate release.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0020830