VISIBLE CHANGES OF CHARACTERS BY ALUMINIUM IN BRASSICA JUNCEA (L.) CZERNJ & COSSON

Aluminium ions exert their effect primarily on the root systems and decreased shoot growth is believed to be a later occurring effect. However, the effects on the aerial parts are not well documented. In our attempt to find a visible marked change of characters, an oil-yielding plant, Brassica juncea was grown in Al-applied soil (100-1000 µg g-1) at 4.5-5.0 pH. The aerial symptoms included inter alia purple patches in leaf margins, panicle collapse, but of interest was a change in colour of flowers from yellow to white in a few plants. Seeds produced by the white flowers were sown in the next generation and the results have been discussed.