Aluminium (Al)-induced programmed cell death (PCD) is thought to be a main cause of Al phytotoxicity. However, the underlying mechanism by which Al induces PCD in plants is unclear. In this study, we characterized the function of AhASRK1 (Aluminum Sensitive Receptor-like protein Kinase1), an Al-induced LRR-type receptor-like kinase gene. AhASRK1 was localized on the plasma membrane. A kinase assay of recombinant cytoplasmic domains of AhASRK1 revealed that this leucine-rich repeat-receptor-like protein kinase autophosphorylates both serine/threonine and tyrosine residues. The role of AhASRK1 in regulating Al-induced PCD was investigated in roots. Al treatment significantly inhibited root growth and promoted ROS production and cell death after AhASRK1 was overexpressed in Arabidopsis, whereas the knockdown of AhASRK1 in peanut increased Al tolerance. AhASRK1 overexpression resulted in increased accumulation of apical calcium ions (Ca