Aluminum alleviates manganese toxicity by reducing its availability

High concentrations of aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) can co-occur in acid soils, and plants have to co-adapt to both stresses. Wang et al. study rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings grown in nutrient solution and find that Al alleviates Mn toxicity, which can be attributed to an Al-induced change in cell membrane potential resulting in decreased root symplastic Mn uptake. In addition, Al increases Mn plaques in the roots and changes the binding properties of the cell wall, resulting in accumulation of non-available Mn in the roots.