CANCADO, G. M. A.

CARVALHO, F. T.

LOPES, M. A.

PAIVA, E.

PARENTONI, S. N.

SCHAFFERT, R. E.

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SCREENING MAIZE AND SORGHUM GENOTYPES FOR VARIA TIONS IN ROOTPROTEINS ASSOCIATED WITH RESPONSE TO TOXIC ALUMINUM. G. M. A. Cançado'",F. T. Carvalho", R. E. Schafferr", S. N. Parentoni", E. Paiva ' and M. A. Lopes", 1MestrandoUFV, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa (MG), Brasil, 2BoIsista CNPq, C.P. 151, SeteLagoas (MG) ,Brazil, 3 Pesquisadores CNPMS/EMBRAPA, C.P. 151, Sete Lagoas (MG),Brazil.Toxic leveI of aluminum is one of the major problems affecting agriculture in several regions ofthe world .In Central Brazil, large areas under savana-like vegetations, know as"Cerrado" ,showsevere problems of nutrients availability associated with high levels of toxic aluminum,especiallyin the layers below 20-25 cm.Although technology for elimination of soil acidity is available,it isdifficult to incorporate lime beyond the first 20-25 em of soil.Maize and sorghum crops can besuccessfuly cultivated in lime treated,fertilized cerrado soils with regular rains orirrigation.Hower, short periods of drought may force the plants to grow deeper roots in the searchof water into layers not neutralized by liming. Genotypes not adapted to this condition may beseverely injuried, due to impairment of essencial root functions. Therefore, it is important todevelop cultivars capable of withstanding high levels of aluminum in the subsoil. The NationalMaize and Sorghum Research Center,CNPMS/EMBRAPA, has been developing breeding programsaimed at selection of maize and sorghum cultivars more adapted to cerrado areas, and manypopulations, inbred lines and hibryds with excelent levels of tolerance are already available.One ofthe major problems to increase efficiency of selection,manipulation and transference of aluminumtolerance to elite maize and sorghum cultivars is the lack of understanding on the mechanismscontrolling this trait. We present the results of screening maize and sorghum genotypes forvariations in the root protein profile which can be associate with response to toxic levels ofaluminum. Tolerants and sensitive maize cultivars, as diallel crosses between tolerant andsensitive sorghum lines were grown in nutrient solutions containing high levels of aluminum, androot proteins were extraced and evaluated by SDS-PAGE.Variations in root protein profiles havebeen found, wich open the possybiliy of more detailed studies on mechanisms of tolerance anddevelopment of new tools to be used in breeding programs.

Screening maize and sorghum genotypes for variations in root proteins associated with response to toxic aluminum.

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