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Mechanisms for improving phosphorus utilization efficiency in plants
Yang Han1, Philip J White2, Lingyun Cheng1
1College of Resources and Environmental Sciences; National Academy of Agriculture Green Development; Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China.
Background:
Limitation of plant productivity by phosphorus (P) supply is widespread and will probably increase in the future. Relatively large amounts of P fertilizer are applied to sustain crop growth and development and to achieve high yields. However, with increasing P application, plant P efficiency generally declines, which results in greater losses of P to the environment with detrimental consequences for ecosystems.
Scope:
A strategy for reducing P input and environmental losses while maintaining or increasing plant performance is the development of crops that take up P effectively from the soil (P acquisition efficiency) or promote productivity per unit of P taken up (P utilization efficiency). In this review, we describe current research on P metabolism and transport and its relevance for improving P utilization efficiency.
Conclusions:
Enhanced P utilization efficiency can be achieved by optimal partitioning of cellular P and distributing P effectively between tissues, allowing maximum growth and biomass of harvestable plant parts. Knowledge of the mechanisms involved could help design and breed crops with greater P utilization efficiency.
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