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CsSPX-PHR/PHL-PHT1 and CsmiR399a-PHO2-PHT1/PHO1 Modules Orchestrate Pi Use Efficiency and Aluminium Tolerance in Tea
Hongjie Liu1, Jiaojiao Liu1, Weiming Hu1
1National Research Center of Engineering and Technology for Utilisation of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Laboratory of Tea Science of Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture, Hunan Agricultural University, Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha, China.
Plant, Cell & Environment
|June 1, 2026
Summary
Tea plants enhance phosphate use efficiency (PUE) and aluminum (Al) tolerance through complex signaling networks. These mechanisms regulate phosphate uptake and distribution under nutrient and stress conditions, crucial for plant adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Acidic soils and high aluminum (Al) toxicity impede phosphate (Pi) nutrition in Al-hyperaccumulator tea plants.
- Understanding the mechanisms of Pi use efficiency (PUE) and Al tolerance in tea plants is crucial for improving crop yield and adaptation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To decipher the Pi signaling networks and regulatory mechanisms governing PUE and Al tolerance in tea plants.
- To functionally characterize Pi signaling components in response to varying Pi/N status and Al/H stress.
Main Methods:
- Functional characterization of Pi signaling components, including transporters (CsPHT1.4, CsPHT1.5) and regulatory proteins (CsSPX1a/2, CsPHR1b/PHL1a, CsHHO6a, CsSTOP1a/2a, CsmiR399a, CsPHO2, CsPHO1).
- Analysis of gene expression and protein interactions under different nutrient (Pi, N) and stress (Al/H) conditions.
- Investigating the roles of specific molecular modules (CsSPX1a-CsPHR1b-CsPHT1.4 and CsmiR399a-CsPHO2-CsPHT1.5) in regulating Pi homeostasis.
Main Results:
- Identified CsPHT1.4 and CsPHT1.5 as key transporters for Pi uptake and redistribution.
- Elucidated regulatory pathways involving protein interactions and microRNAs (CsmiR399a) that control Pi homeostasis under Pi deficiency, N-supply, and Al/H stress.
- Demonstrated that Al/H toxicity up-regulates CsSPX1a to inhibit Pi absorption and root growth, while CsmiR399a stabilizes CsPHT1.5/CsPHO1 for Pi redistribution.
Conclusions:
- Tea plants possess intricate molecular mechanisms, including CsSPX1a-CsPHR1b-CsPHT1.4 and CsmiR399a-CsPHO2-CsPHT1.5 modules, to maintain Pi homeostasis under diverse nutritional and stress conditions.
- These findings provide a foundation for genetic improvement of tea PUE and adaptation to acidic soils and Al toxicity.
