20.500.12556/DiRROS-29235 Fluoride detoxification in tea plants depends on aluminium and localization in the epidermis Tea (Camellia sinensis) is a hyperaccumulator of both aluminium (Al) and fluorine (F). While the formation of Al-F complexes has been proposed as a key mechanism for F detoxification and accumulation in tea, excessive Al and especially fluoride (F−) pose health risks to humans. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that Al3+ mitigates F−-induced ionomic imbalance and that Al and F are spatially colocalized within tea tissues. Tea plants were grown hydroponically under different Al3+ and F− treatments, and elemental distributions were analysed using micro-particle-induced gamma-ray emission (micro-PIGE), micro-particle-induced X-ray emission (micro-PIXE), and low-energy X-ray fluorescence (LEXRF). Tea plants were highly sensitive to F− treatment, exhibiting leaf crinkling, chlorosis, and marginal necrosis; however, the addition of Al3+ markedly alleviated these symptoms by reducing F− translocation to the shoots. Ionomic profiling revealed that F− supply increased manganese (Mn) accumulation in both leaves and roots, whereas Al3+ supplementation mitigated F−-induced Mn toxicity. Micro-PIGE mapping revealed co-localization of Al and F in leaf margins, particularly along fourth- and fifth-order veins. LEXRF analysis further showed that Al and F colocalized in the epidermis of leaves and roots, but not in the xylem of petiole or midribs. In root cortical cells, Al and magnesium (Mg) colocalized. These findings demonstrate that F− detoxification in tea is Al3+-dependent and occurs through the formation of Al–F complexes in the epidermis, providing a spatial framework for future mechanistic studies on Al–F interactions in tea. detoxification razstrupljanje true false true American Society of Plant Physiologists ZDA Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik © The Author(s) 2026. Neznano 2026-04-30 09:49:10 2026-04-30 09:49:10 2026-05-01 03:46:22 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Soavtorji iz Slovenije: Paula Pongrac, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš, Matjaž Kavčič, Žiga Šmit, Zdravko Rupnik, Primož Vavpetič; Opis vira z dne 2. 3. 2026; str. 1-35 iss. Vol. 200 [in press] 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 2025-06-25 2026-01-07 2026-02-21 58 1532-2548 10.1093/plphys/kiag077 270103555 https://academic.oup.com/plphys/advance-article/doi/10.1093/plphys/kiag077/8494433 1 14ac1bae-4469-11f1-a4de-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=43736 RAZ_Zhang_Chenyu_2026.pdf RAZ_Zhang_Chenyu_2026.pdf 1 A64C3AB53B5116795AB3AC4AC758BF01 6356f377d33c8f4a8167bebe2fd168be5b1849e20aeacd72b750d7abf50e29ec 9df08748-4469-11f1-a4de-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=43737 Institut Jožef Stefan 0 0 0