Reactive oxygen species burst induced by aluminum stress triggers mitochondria-dependent programmed cell death in peanut root tip cells

• Al stress induced ROS burst, changed mitochondrial membrane characters, and induced PCD.
• Exogenous H2O2 and ROS scavenger CAT and AsA influenced ROS burst and PCD occurrence.
• A mechanism of ROS on regulating PCD induced by Al is proposed.

Recent studies had certified that aluminum (Al) induced ROS production and programmed cell death (PCD) in higher plants. The relationship between ROS production and PCD occurrence under Al stress is uncovered. The results showed that root elongation inhibition and PCD occurrence was induced by 100 μM AlCl3. Al stress induced ROS burst, up-regulated Rboh and COX gene expression, increased mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening, decreased inner mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), released cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytoplasm, activated caspase 3-like protease activity. Exogenous H2O2 aggravated the changes caused by Al and accelerated PCD occurrence, but ROS scavenger CAT and AsA reversed the changes caused by Al and inhibited PCD production. A potential cascade of cellular events during Al induced PCD via mitochondria dependent pathway and the mechanism of ROS on regulating PCD induced by Al is proposed.