Abstract:Aluminum(Al)toxicity is one of the most important factors limiting crop production worldwide on acidic soils. Although Al inhibits the elongation of plant roots, the exact mechanism by which this growth reduction occurs remains controversial. A hydroponic experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Al on root elongation, aluminum content, cell wall bound enzyme activity and hydrogen peroxide content in the root tips of Al-resistant(Jian-864)and Al-sensitive(Yangmai-5)genotypes of wheat(Triticum aestivum L.). Root elongation of both genotypes was greatly inhibited with the increasing Al concentrations, but more severe inhibition was observed in the Al-sensitive genotype(Yangmai-5). Total Al content in root tips was significantly higher in Yangmai-5 than in Jian-864. The soluble guaiacol peroxidase(GPX)and coniferyl alcohol peroxidase(CAPX)activities in root tip of both genotypes was not influenced, while cell wall-ionically bound GPX and CAPX activity were greatly enhanced and more evident was found in Yangmai-5. H2O2 content also had the similar trends. In conclusion, it appears that the increase in cell wall-ionically GPX, CAPX and H2O2 content may lead to the enhancement of lignification and suberisation and H2O2 dependent peroxidase-catalyzed formation of cross-link among cell wall polymers and thus increase the rigidity of cell wall, thereby reducing cell wall extensibility and inhibiting root elongation.