Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 7, 2026
07:12
A Colorimetric Method for Measuring Iron Content in Plants
Published on: September 7, 2018
23.1K
One way. Or another? Iron uptake in plants
Huei-Hsuan Tsai1,2,3, Wolfgang Schmidt1,3,4,5
1Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Chung Hsing University, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
The New Phytologist
|February 17, 2017
Summary
Phosphate-deficient plants increase root-hair density by altering iron uptake, a process crucial for growth in nutrient-poor soils. This mechanism impacts plant development and nutrient acquisition.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Soil Science
- Nutrient Cycling
Background:
- Iron (Fe) and phosphate (Pi) are essential plant nutrients often limiting crop yield due to low soil availability.
- Phosphate deficiency triggers increased root-hair density to enhance Pi interception, dependent on external Fe availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of iron deposition in root apoplast during phosphate starvation.
- To elucidate the mechanism of iron uptake under phosphate deficiency and its impact on root development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of root hair density and primary root growth under varying Pi and Fe conditions.
- Investigating iron localization and transport pathways in root cortical cells.
Main Results:
- Phosphate deficiency leads to iron deposition in the root elongation zone's apoplast, affecting cell elongation.
- A noncanonical iron uptake pathway, bypassing default transporters, is active under Pi starvation.
- This pathway results in compromised cell-to-cell communication, shorter epidermal cells, and increased root-hair density.
Conclusions:
- An auxiliary iron uptake system is critical for recalibrating root cell elongation in phosphate-deficient plants.
- This system may be vital for plant growth in iron- or phosphate-poor soils by balancing nutrient supply.
Related Concept Videos
02:11The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
47.6K
Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
47.6K
02:12Short-distance Transport of Resources
17.9K
Short-distance transport refers to transport that occurs over a distance of just 2-3 cells, crossing the plasma membrane in the process. Small uncharged molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, can diffuse across the plasma membrane on their own. In contrast, ions and larger molecules require the assistance of transport proteins due to their charge or size. Transport across membranes also occurs within individual cells, playing a variety of essential roles for the plant as a whole.
17.9K
02:34Water and Mineral Acquisition
36.1K
Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.
36.1K
02:35Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
24.7K
Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the...
24.7K
01:46The Calvin Benson Cycle
7.0K
Ribulose 1,5- bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo) is a critical enzyme that catalyzes carbon dioxide assimilation during photosynthesis. However, it is an inefficient enzyme, having an extremely slow catalytic rate. A typical enzyme can process about a thousand molecules per second; however, RuBisCo fixes only around three-carbon dioxides per second. Photosynthetic cells compensate for this slow rate by synthesizing very high amounts of RuBisCo, making it the most abundant single...
7.0K
02:00Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light
28.7K
Light plays a significant role in regulating the growth and development of plants. In addition to providing energy for photosynthesis, light provides other important cues to regulate a range of developmental and physiological responses in plants.
28.7K