Abstract

Although a role of ethylene in the regulation of senescence and plant stress responses in general has a long history, a possible involvement in the regulation of adaptive responses to nutrient deficiencies has been mainly investigated since the last two decades. In the case of plant responses to phosphate (Pi) starvation, ethylene was identified as a modulator of adaptive responses in root growth and morphology. The molecular base of these adaptations has been elucidated in supplementation studies with ethylene precursors and antagonists, as well as analysis of mutants and transgenic plants with modified ethylene biosynthesis and responsiveness, using mainly Arabidopsis thaliana as a model plant. However, increasing evidence suggests that apart from root growth responses, ethylene may be involved in various additional plant adaptations to Pi limitation including Pi mobilization in the rhizosphere, Pi uptake and internal Pi recycling. The ethylene-mediated responses are frequently characterized by high genotypic variability and may partially share common pathways in different nutrient limitations.

Highlights

  • Günter Neumann*A role of ethylene in the regulation of senescence and plant stress responses in general has a long history, a possible involvement in the regulation of adaptive responses to nutrient deficiencies has been mainly investigated since the last two decades

  • Among the wide range of phosphorus (P) forms in soils, inorganic phosphate anions (Pi) are taken up exclusively by plant roots

  • The formation of so-called cluster roots (CR; Figure 2) within the Proteaceae, Casuarinaceae, Myrtaceae, and Fabaceae (Dinkelaker et al, 1995; Neumann and Martinoia, 2002), or dauciform roots in Cyperaceae (Playsted et al, 2006) are among the most specialized root-morphological adaptations to promote the secretion of Pi-mobilizing root

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Summary

Günter Neumann*

A role of ethylene in the regulation of senescence and plant stress responses in general has a long history, a possible involvement in the regulation of adaptive responses to nutrient deficiencies has been mainly investigated since the last two decades. In the case of plant responses to phosphate (Pi) starvation, ethylene was identified as a modulator of adaptive responses in root growth and morphology. Increasing evidence suggests that apart from root growth responses, ethylene may be involved in various additional plant adaptations to Pi limitation including Pi mobilization in the rhizosphere, Pi uptake and internal Pi recycling. The ethylene-mediated responses are frequently characterized by high genotypic variability and may partially share common pathways in different nutrient limitations

INTRODUCTION
Ethylene and P acquisition in plants
ETHYLENE AND ROOT GROWTH RESPONSES
CLUSTER ROOTS
Findings
CONCLUDING REMARKS

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