Abstract:
World Agriculture faces daunting challenges in feeding the growing population today. Reduction in arable
land extent due to numerous reasons threatens achievement of food and nutritional security. Under this back
ground, agricultural use of acidic soils, which account for approximately 40 % of the world arable lands is of
utmost important. However, due to aluminum (Al) toxicity and low available phosphorous (P) content, crop
production in acidic soils is restricted. Citrus, in this context, gains worldwide recognition as a crop adapted to
harsh environments. The present paper reviewed Al toxicity and possible toxicity alleviation tactics in citrus.
As reported for many other crops, inhibition of root elongation, photosynthesis and growth is experienced in
citrus also due to Al toxicity. Focusing at toxicity alleviation, interaction between boron (B) and Al as well as
phosphorus and Al has been discussed intensively. Al toxicity in citrus could be alleviated by P through
increasing immobilization of Al in roots and P level in shoots rather than through increasing organic acid
secretion, which has been widely reported in other crops. Boron-induced changes in Al speciation and/or
sub-cellular compartmentation has also been suggested in amelioration of root inhibition in citrus. Despite the
species-dependent manner of response to Al toxicity, many commercially important citrus species can be
grown successfully in acidic soils, provided toxicity alleviation Agro-biological tactics such as addition of
phosphorous fertilizers are used properly.