An early response of plant roots to aluminium is the oxidative burst at the root tips. For many years this was considered a deleterious symptom of aluminium toxicity. However, the existence of a lag phase between reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and the appearance of oxidative damage and root growth inhibition suggest that the physiological role of ROS is not completely understood. After reviewing relevant experimental data in the literature, we propose that Al-induced ROS are involved in the signal transduction of Al perception and, as occurs with other stress conditions, participate in establishment of resistance mechanisms to this metal. Indeed, we propose a model of aluminium resistance in which Al, the redox system and organic acids are integrated into a feedback regulation mechanism of ROS accumulation. This would mean that aluminium-resistant plants must have a robust redox metabolism to control the Al-induced oxidative burst.