MeJA regulates plant root growth, development and phosphorus uptake to adapt to low phosphorus stress

Phosphorus, as an essential element for sustaining plant life activities, faces irreversible depletion in global reserves. The strong fixation tendency of phosphorus in soil leads to insufficient bioavailability, becoming a critical limiting factor for modern agricultural development. Although methyl jasmonate (MeJA) plays roles in various stress responses, its systemic regulatory mechanisms in coordinating root development and phosphorus metabolism networks under phosphorus deficiency remain unclear. This article systematically elucidates the MeJA-mediated low-phosphorus adaptation mechanism. At the physiological level, jasmonic acid enhances the activation of insoluble phosphorus in the rhizosphere by inhibiting primary root growth, promoting lateral root and root hair development, and synergistically boosting root secretion. At the molecular level, MeJA optimizes phosphorus uptake and transport by regulating the operation of phosphorus transporter families (PHT1, PHO1, PHT5). At the signaling level, MeJA connects phosphorus signaling with the jasmonic acid pathway through the PHR1-JAZ-MYC2 module, forming a regulatory network that coordinates root development, phosphorus transport, and mycorrhizal symbiosis. This study is the first to explain the efficient phosphorus acquisition mechanism mediated by MeJA from a systems biology perspective, providing a new paradigm for the genetic improvement of crop phosphorus efficiency. Subsequent research will focus on deciphering the molecular basis of phosphorus sensing in plants, clarifying the interaction mechanisms between MeJA and phosphorus signaling pathways, and developing synergistic strategies based on plant-microbe interactions.