The role of root border cells in aluminum resistance of pea (Pisum sativum) grown in mist culture.

Root border cells are considered to contribute to aluminum (Al) resistance by protecting the root apex from Al toxicity. In the present study, the responses of root apices of pea (Pisum sativum) to Al exposure in mist culture with border cells stripped off or not were compared. Inhibition of root elongation, induction of callose synthesis, and accumulation of Al were more pronounced in root apices stripped from border cells. Aluminum application led to higher Al concentrations in border cells than in root apices. The same trend was found for Al contents in cell walls of border cells compared to root apices. The analysis of cell-wall pectin indicated that the concentrations of total sugars, uronic acids, and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid (KDO) were higher in border cells than in root apices, especially when exposed to Al. Together, these results suggest that root border cells enhance the Al resistance of root apices by immobilizing Al in their cell-wall pectin, thus protecting the root apex.