In: Phyton 60, Fasc. (2020): S. 49-60; DOI: 10.12905/0380.phyton60-2020-0049; Published online on 09 December 2020

Seed germination, seedling growth, protein expression and chromosomal abnormalities in relation to aluminum tolerance of faba bean (Vicia faba) cultivars

Ahmed M. Hassanein, Ahmed H. Mohamed, Heba Ahmed Abd Allah & Hoida Zaki
with 7 figures and 4 tables

Key words: Aluminum tolerance, Al, AlCl3, seed germination, seedling growth, protein expression, chromosomal abnormalities, esterases, superoxide dismutase, SDS-PAGEs; Vicia faba, faba bean, cultivars.

Summary
Hassanein A. M., Mohamed A. H., Abd Allah H. A. & Zaki H. 2020. Seed germination, seedling growth, protein expression and chromosomal abnormalities in relation to aluminum tolerance of faba bean (Vicia faba) cultivars. – Phyton (Horn, Austria) 60: 49–60, with 7 figures and 4 tables.*
When seeds of eight faba bean cultivars were germinated under the influence of different concentrations of aluminum (AlCl3), no correlation could be detected between seed characteristics and their abilities to germinate under Al stress. While root length of the other cultivars was reduced, Misr 3 showed a slight increase in root length at 5 mM AlCl3. Root fresh or dry weight of all cultivars decreased with the increase of Al concentration, except for Giza 843 which showed a slight increase in root fresh or dry weight at 5 mM AlCl3. While 5 mM AlCl3 improved shoot growth of most cultivars in a similar manner, shoot parameters were affected in Nobaria 3. In Giza 843, an improvement in shoot parameters was even detected at 15 mM AlCl3. Seedling growth parameters indicated that Giza 843 was most tolerant, and Nobaria 3 was most sensitive to Al. Expression of additional superoxide dismutase and esterase isoenzyme forms were detected under Al stress. Alterations in SDS-PAGE results were detected under Al stress where a few polypeptides were newly detected, but several polypeptides disappeared. Under the influence of 5 mM AlCl3 for 12 h, chromosomal abnormalities of plants of Giza 843 increased 13-fold compared to the control. When plants of Nobaria 3 and Misr 3 were exposed to the same conditions, chromosomal abnormalities increased 21-fold. All chromosomal abnormalities such as chromosomal breaks, stickiness, laggards, rings, C-metaphase or -anaphase, and bridges could be detected under Al stress. Seed germination, seedling growth, total chromosomal abnormalities and dendrograms based on native PAGE and SDS-PAGE indicated that Giza 843 was the most Al-tolerant faba bean cultivar.