Abstract: Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the crust. More and more aluminum originally fixed in the forest soils has been transferred into active forms due to the environmental problems such as soil acidification, which led to the increase in its potential toxicity in forest plants. The potential toxicity of active aluminum in terrestrial ecosystems was a major factor leading to the forest degradation overspreading along Central Europe in the 1970s. This problem aroused concern in various countries. Studies on aluminum toxicity in forest soilplant system are very important for the protection of forest resource, the evaluation of aluminum toxicity in forest ecosystems and its control. This paper summarized researches on the chemical forms and distribution of aluminum in forest soils, the accumulation and chemical forms of aluminum in forest plants, the effects of aluminum on the growth, physiological processes and genetic factors of forest plants. Furthermore, the alleviation measures, including the control of soil acidity, addition of base cations, control of organic acid in rhizosphere soil, inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi, selection of suitable plants and mixed plantation, were also described. Accordingly, some suggestions for further research in this field were proposed: the threshold value of aluminum toxicity and risk assessment of aluminum toxicity, the subcellular distribution and chemical forms of aluminum and their relationship with aluminum phytotoxicity, and new alleviation measures.

Key words: extremely saline soil, salinity change, straw mulching, climate factor, halophyte