Inorganic phosphate (Pi), the fully oxidized and assimilated form of phosphorus (P), constitutes a major nexus in bioenergetics and metabolism. As a consequence, Pi bioavailability directly impacts plant fitness and performance. To cope with inadequate Pi supply, which is a common situation in many ecosystems and often a result of complex soil chemistries, plants activate a set of adaptive responses to reprioritize internal Pi allocation and to maximize external Pi acquisition. Such countermeasures include the reprogramming of metabolisms to maintain intracellular Pi homeostasis and the restructuring of root system architectures to intensify soil exploration.
While the physiological and biochemical responses to Pi shortage are relatively well understood, the sensory mechanisms that monitor the environmental Pi status and interpret the nutritional signals in Pi rescue efforts are largely unknown. We are particularly interested in the signaling networks that govern metabolic adjustments and root developmental responses to Pi availability as well as in the emerging relationships between Pi, Fe and N sensing.
A better understanding of how plants perceive and respond to altered Pi status will be necessary for the development of strategies to improve P usage by crops, as phosphate rock reserves are considered a finite mineral resource that may limit the sustainability of global food production.
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