Acid soil (aluminum) tolerance in soybean cultivars related to ozone tolerance

Abstract

Acid soil [aluminum (Al)] toxicity and ozone toxicity are potential yield‐limiting factors for soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Previous studies in our laboratory suggested that tolerance to these two stress factors coincided in some soybean cultivars. The objective of the current study was to determine the relationship between acid soil (Al) tolerance and ozone (03) tolerance in a range of soybean cultivars. Seventeen cultivars, known to differ in Al tolerance, were screened for 03 tolerance, some in a fumigation chamber and some in O₃ polluted, unfiltered air in a greenhouse. In spite of variability encountered, we concluded that Perry, Santa Rosa, Davis, Biloxi, Bossier, Lee, VNIIS‐2, and Essex soybean cultivars were more tolerant to 03 than Forrest, Aurora, Smena, Brunatna, Yantarnaya, and Chief. Some cultivars showing high tolerance to O₃ (St. 59, Giessener, Biloxi, Bossier, Lee, and Perry) were also acid soil (Al) tolerant, but two Al‐tolerant cultivars (Aurora and Brunatna) were 03 sensitive. Other cultivars (Chief, Salute 216, and Smena) were sensitive to both Al and O₃. Manganese (Mn)‐tolerant Lee soybean was more tolerant to 03 than Mn‐sensitive Forrest. Because both 03 toxicity and Mn toxicity are regarded as oxidative stresses, this finding has implications for future studies on oxidative stress tolerance mechanisms in plants.