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Updated: Feb 26, 2026

A Simple Protocol for Mapping the Plant Root System Architecture Traits
Published on: February 10, 2023
Insights into plant phosphate sensing and signaling
Byung-Kook Ham1, Jieyu Chen1, Yan Yan1
1Department of Plant Biology, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Abstract:
Phosphorus (P) is a macronutrient essential for plant growth, therefore, soil P level is critical to crop yield potential in agriculture. As Pi levels limit crop yield under many soil conditions, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms by which plants adapt to low-phosphate (Pi) soil conditions and interact with their soil microbiome to improve crop P use efficiency, in order to ensure global food security. Recent advances have been made towards achieving this goal through advancing our understanding of the plant's response to limiting Pi conditions to maintain P homeostasis. In this review, we assess advances made in local and systemic Pi sensing and signaling, and in the molecular events for Pi absorption, redistribution and plant-symbiont interactions. These findings offer important avenues for bio-engineering of agricultural crops with traits for enhanced Pi acquisition and utilization.
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