Journal Article

Opportunities for improving phosphorus-use efficiency in crop plants

Erik J. Veneklaas, William C. Plaxton, John A. Raven, Jason Bragg, Hans Lambers, Michael W. Shane, Patrick M. Finnegan, Catherine E. Lovelock, Philip J. White, Charles A. Price, Wolf Ruüdiger Scheible

2012

Overview

Limitation of grain crop productivity by phosphorus (P) is widespread and will probably increase in the future. Enhanced P efficiency can be achieved by improved uptake of phosphate from soil (P-acquisition efficiency) and by improved productivity per unit P taken up (P-use efficiency). This review focuses on improved (P-use efficiency, which can be achieved by plants that have overall lower P concentrations, and by optimal distribution and redistribution of P in the plant allowing maximum growth and biomass allocation to harvestable plant parts. Significant decreases in plant P pools may be possible, for example, through reductions of superfluous ribosomal RNA and replacement of phospholipids by sulfolipids and galactolipids. Improvements in P distribution within the plant may be possible by increased remobilization from tissues that no longer need it (e.g. senescing leaves) and reduced partitioning of P to developing grains. Such changes would prolong and enhance the productive use of P in photosynthesis and have nutritional and environmental benefits. Research considering physiological, metabolic, molecular biological, genetic and phylogenetic aspects of P-use efficiency is urgently needed to allow significant progress to be made in our understanding of this complex trait.

• Publisher: New Phytologist Trust,Blackwell Publishing Ltd,Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subject: Acquisition / canopy / Crop development / Crop production / Crops / Crops, Agricultural / Crops, Agricultural - genetics / Crops, Agricultural - growth & development / Crops, Agricultural - metabolism / Distribution / dry matter partitioning / ecosystem services / Efficiency / Galactolipids / genetics / Grain / Grain crops / Grains / growth & development / harvest index / Leaves / loci / metabolism / nutrition / Phosphates / Phospholipids / Phosphorus / phosphorus (P) fractions / Phosphorus - metabolism / phosphorus‐use efficiency / Photosynthesis / Phylogeny / Physiology / plant developmental phases / Plant growth / Plant Leaves / Plant Leaves - metabolism / Plant parts / Plants / Productivity / remobilization / Reproduction / ribosomal RNA / rRNA / Seeds / soil / Sulfolipids / Tansley reviews / Uptake / Wheat