biostudies-literatureUnknown13Xu YX<i>Rhododendron</i> (Ericaceae) not only has ornamental value, but also has great medicinal and edible values. Many <i>Rhododendron</i> species are native to acid soils where aluminum (Al) toxicity limits plant productivity and species distribution. However, it remains unknown how <i>Rhododendron</i> adapts to acid soils. Here, we investigated the physiological and molecular mechanisms of Al tolerance in <i>Rhododendron yunnanense</i> Franch. We found that the shoots of <i>R. yunnanense</i> Franch did not accumulate Al after exposure of seedlings to 50 μM Al for 7 days but predominantly accumulated in roots, suggesting that root Al immobilization contributes to its high Al tolerance. Whole-genome <i>de novo</i> transcriptome analysis was carried out for <i>R. yunnanense</i> Franch root apeFrontiers in plant science951003https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9399778biostudies-literatureCombined <i>de novo</i> transcriptomic and physiological analyses reveal RyALS3-mediated aluminum tolerance in <i>Rhododendron yunnanense</i> Franch.PMC9399778Wan ZYLei YSZhang JZhu XTJin SHHuang SXXu YXfalseCombined <i>de novo</i> transcriptomic and physiological analyses reveal RyALS3-mediated aluminum tolerance in <i>Rhododendron yunnanense</i> Franch.<i>Rhododendron</i> (Ericaceae) not only has ornamental value, but also has great medicinal and edible values. Many <i>Rhododendron</i> species are native to acid soils where aluminum (Al) toxicity limits plant productivity and species distribution. However, it remains unknown how <i>Rhododendron</i> adapts to acid soils. Here, we investigated the physiological and molecular mechanisms of Al tolerance in <i>Rhododendron yunnanense</i> Franch. We found that the shoots of <i>R. yunnanense</i> Franch did not accumulate Al after exposure of seedlings to 50 μM Al for 7 days but predominantly accumulated in roots, suggesting that root Al immobilization contributes to its high Al tolerance. Whole-genome <i>de novo</i> transcriptome analysis was carried out for <i>R. yunnanense</i> Franch root ape2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-26T05:26:28.108Z2025-02-19T00:41:43.944ZS-EPMC93997783603566210.3389/fpls.2022.951003