Alleviation of Aluminum Stress and Stimulation of Tea Pollen Tube Growth by Fluorine

Abstract
Aluminum (Al) and fluorine (F) were found to affect tea pollen tube growth on an agar medium. Not only was the growth strongly repressed by increasing Al content of the medium but it was also distinctly affected by declining pH from 5.2 to 4.4. Addition of 0.2 mM Al as Al2(SO4)3 to a pH 4.6 medium containing 1.2% agar, 8% sucrose and 17 ppm boron remarkably repressed tea pollen tube growth. However, NaF added to medium containing Al clearly alleviated the growth inhibition. This effect was observed with 0.2 mM and 0.4 HIM NaF, and the presence of 0.6 mM and 1.2 DIM NaF with 0.2 mM Al even produced a stimulatory effect. Treatment with NaF alone significantly stimulated growth at pH 4.6 and 5.2. These results indicate that Al-F complexes have a favorable rather than adverse effect on tea pollen tube growth.

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