Phosphorus Deficiency Stress Research Articles

Lanthanum nitrate improves phosphorus-use efficiency and tolerance to phosphorus-deficiency stress in Vigna angularis seedlings.

Here, we examined the effects of La3+ on growth, photosynthetic ability, and phosphorus-use efficiency (PUE) in various organs of adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) seedlings. La3+ substantially alleviated P-deficiency symptoms. Treatment of young seedlings with La3+ at 150mgL-1 effectively improved PUE in roots, stems, and leaves via the regulation of root elongation and activation of root physiological responses to P-deficiency, e.g., root activity and acid phosphatase (APase) activity. Root hydraulic conductivity (Lp) was also examined to elucidate the role of La3+ in the relationship between water and nutrition transport. We confirmed that La3+ increased the level of antioxidant protective enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), while it significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content. The use of La3+ to reduce photosynthesis damage under P-deficiency was examined. The negative effects of P-deficiency on net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), and chlorophyll content in leaves were alleviated by La3+ treatment. These results clarify the regulatory functions of La3+ in stress tolerance and P utilization in adzuki bean seedlings.

Transcriptomic Analysis of Banana in Response to Phosphorus Starvation Stress

Bananas are an important part of the diets of millions of people around the globe. Low P absorption and use efficiency significantly restrict banana yields. To further explore the molecular mechanisms of P regulation in banana plants, we used RNA sequencing-based transcriptomic analysis for banana plants subjected to Pi deficit stress for 60 days. We detected 1900 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in aboveground plant parts and 7398 DEGs in root parts under low P stress. Gene ontology (GO) classification analysis showed that 156,291 GO terms belonging to molecular functions, 53,114 GO terms belonging to cellular components, and 228,544 GO terms belonging to biological processes were enriched in the aboveground and root components. A number of DEGs involved in energy metabolism-related processes, signal transduction, control of rhizosphere P activation, and Pi mobilization were found, which were confirmed by quantitative reverse-transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. At the transcriptomic level, we detected 13 DEGs from different organs and with different functions in the time-course response to phosphorus deficiency stress. These DEGs may include some key genes that regulate the phosphorus network, increasing our understanding of the molecular mechanism of Pi homeostasis in banana. These findings will also help develop biotechnologies to create a variant of banana with more effective Pi absorption and utilization.

Tomato genotypes grown under phosphorus deficiency stress

Tomato genotypes grown under phosphorus deficiency stress

Comparative transcript profiling of maize inbreds in response to long-term phosphorus deficiency stress

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food and energy crop, and low phosphate (Pi) availability is one of the major constraints in maize production worldwide. Plants adapt suitably to acclimate to low Pi stress. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of Pi deficiency response is still unclear. In this study, comparative transcriptomic analyses were conducted to investigate the differences of transcriptional responses in two maize genotypes with different tolerances to low phosphorus (LP) stress. LP-tolerant genotype QXN233 maintained higher P and Pi levels in shoots than LP-sensitive genotype QXH0121 suffering from Pi deficiency at seedling stage. Moreover, the transcriptomic analysis identified a total of 1391 Pi-responsive genes differentially expressed between QXN233 and QXH0121 under LP stress. Among these genes, 468 (321 up- and 147 down-regulated) were identified in leaves, and 923 (626 up- and 297 down-regulated) were identified in roots. These Pi-responsive genes were involved in various metabolic pathways, the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, ion transport, phytohormone regulation, and other adverse stress responses. Consistent with the differential tolerance to LP stress, five maize inorganic Pi transporter genes were more highly up-regulated in QXN233 than in QXH0121. Results provide important information to further study the changes in global gene expression between LP-tolerant and LP-sensitive maize genotypes and to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying maize's long-term response to Pi deficiency.

The temporal transcriptomic response of Pinus massoniana seedlings to phosphorus deficiency.

BackgroundPhosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development. Several genes involved in phosphorus deficiency stress have been identified in various plant species. However, a whole genome understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in plant adaptations to low P remains elusive, and there is particularly little information on the genetic basis of these acclimations in coniferous trees. Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) is grown mainly in the tropical and subtropical regions in China, many of which are severely lacking in inorganic phosphate (Pi). In previous work, we described an elite P. massoniana genotype demonstrating a high tolerance to Pi-deficiency.Methodology/Principal FindingsTo further investigate the mechanism of tolerance to low P, RNA-seq was performed to give an idea of extent of expression from the two mixed libraries, and microarray whose probes were designed based on the unigenes obtained from RNA-seq was used to elucidate the global gene expression profiles for the long-term phosphorus starvation. A total of 70,896 unigenes with lengths ranging from 201 to 20,490 bp were assembled from 112,108,862 high quality reads derived from RNA-Seq libraries. We identified 1,396 and 943 transcripts that were differentially regulated (P<0.05) under P1 (0.01 mM P) and P2 (0.06 mM P) Pi-deficiency conditions, respectively. Numerous transcripts were consistently differentially regulated under Pi deficiency stress, many of which were also up- or down-regulated in other species under the corresponding conditions, and are therefore ideal candidates for monitoring the P status of plants. The results also demonstrated the impact of different Pi starvation levels on global gene expression in Masson pine.Conclusions/SignificanceTo our knowledge, this work provides the first insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in acclimation to long-term Pi starvation and different Pi availability levels in coniferous trees.

Effect of phosphorus deficiency on photosynthetic inorganic carbon assimilation of three climber plant species.

BackgroundP deficiency in karst areas significantly influenced leaf photosynthesis and carbon metabolisms in plants which were bad for plant growth. Meanwhile, fertilizer application would cause lots of environmental problems. Therefore planning and developing P deficiency-resistant plants in karst areas are important to prevent shortage of P resources and reduce the environmental impacts of P supplementation.ResultsThis study examined the photosynthetic response of three climber plant species, namely, Pharbitis nil (Linn.) Choisy, Lonicera pampaninii Levl, and Parthenocissus tricuspidata (Sieb.et Zucc.) Planch to phosphorus (P) deficiency stress. The plants were exposed to P deficiency stress at three treatments of 0.125 mM, 0.031 mM, and 0 mM for 30 d; 0.250 mM P was used as the control. Photosynthetic responses were determined by measurement of leaf photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, carbonic anhydrase activity, and stable carbon isotope ratios. Pharbitis nil showed high CA activity, more negative δ13C values and could maintain long-term stable photosynthetic capacity. Lonicera pampaninii also showed high CA activity but positive δ13C values compared to Pharbitis nil, and its photosynthetic capacity decreased as P deficiency stress increased. Parthenocissus tricuspidata had a low photosynthesis and positive δ13C values compared to Pharbitis nil, it could grow normally even under 0 mM P.ConclusionsPharbitis nil was tolerant to long-term, severe P deficiency stress, a finding that is attributed to its stable PSII and regulation of carbonic anhydrase. Lonicera pampaninii showed a poor adaptability to short-term P deficiency, but exhibited long-term tolerance under 0.125 mM P concentration. Parthenocissus tricuspidata was tolerant to long-term P deficiency stress, may exhibit a stomatal limitation. Besides, P deficiency stress had little effect on the way of inorganic carbon utilization of the three climber plants. Different adaptation mechanisms to P deficiency stress should be considered for the selection of species when developing P deficiency-resistant plants.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40529-014-0060-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Alleviation of phosphorus deficiency stress by moderate salinity in the halophyte Hordeum maritimum L.

Hordeum maritimum (Poacea) is a facultative halophyte potentially useful for forage production in saline zones. Here, we assessed whether moderate NaCl-salinity can modify the plant response to phosphorus (P) shortage. Plants were cultivated for 55 days under low or sufficient P supply (5 or 60 μmol plant−1 week−1 KH2PO4, respectively), with or without 100 mM NaCl. When individually applied, salinity and P deficiency significantly restricted whole-plant growth, with a more marked effect of the latter stress. Plants subjected to P deficiency showed a significant increase in root growth (as length and dry weight) and root/shoot DW ratio. Enhanced root growth and elongation presumably correspond to the well-known root adaptive response to mineral deficiency. However, leaf relative water content, leaf P concentration, and leaf gas exchange parameters were significantly restricted. The interactive effects of salinity and P deficiency were not added one to another neither on whole plant biomass nor on plant nutrient uptake. Indeed, 100 mM NaCl-addition to P-deficient plants significantly restored the plant growth and improved CO2 assimilation rate, root growth, K+/Na+ ratio and leaf proline and soluble sugar concentrations. It also significantly enhanced leaf total antioxidant capacity and leaf anthocyanin concentration. This was associated with significantly lower leaf osmotic potential, leaf Na+ and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Taken together, these results suggest that mild salinity may mitigate the adverse effects of phosphorus deficiency on H. maritimum by notably improving the plant photosynthetic activity, the osmotic adjustment capacity, the selective absorption of K+ over Na+ and antioxidant defence.

An assessment of ionomic changes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii during phosphorus deficiency and cadmium stress

An assessment of ionomic changes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii during phosphorus deficiency and cadmium stress

Analysis of Quantitative Trait Loci in Response to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Deficiency in Rice Using Chromosomal Segment Substitution Lines

The objectives of this study were to detect QTLs for panicle number and grain yield in rice ( Oryza sativa L.) under low nitrogen and low phosphorus conditions and to analyze the genetic basis of tolerance to the soil nutrient deficiency. A set of 125 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs), each containing a single or a few introgression segments from a japonica cultivar Nipponbare within the genetic background of an indica cultivar 9311, were evaluated using augmented design in field experiments with normal fertilization (NF), low nitrogen (NL), and low phosphorus (PL) treatments. Grain yield and panicle number per plant were measured for each CSSL, and their relative values based on NF treatment were considered as the measurement for tolerance to the nutrient deficiency. Both NL and PL treatments had strong negative effects on grain yield and panicle number. There were different responses among the CSSLs to the deficiency of nitrogen or phosphorus. The relative traits had a significantly negative correlation with the traits in NF treatment. Cultivar 9311 showed higher tolerance to low-nutrient stresses than Nipponbare. A total of 38 chromosomal regions or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) with negative allelic effects from Nipponbare were detected under the stresses of nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies. Among them, 26 QTLs were responsible for yield and panicle number, and the remaining 12 QTLs specifying the relative traits. Five chromosomal regions were identified in common under both stresses. Most QTLs (81%) were specifically detected only in low nitrogen or phosphorus condition. These different QTLs suggest that the responses to limiting nitrogen and phosphorus conditions are regulated by different sets of genes in rice. Most QTLs for the relative traits were colocalized with those for the yield and the panicle number under either nitrogen deficiency or phosphorus deficiency stress, indicating that the tolerant QTLs may be involved in nitrogen and phosphorus uptake or assimilation pathway in rice.

Aluminum resistance of cowpea as affected by phosphorus-deficiency stress

Plants growing in acid soils suffer both phosphorus (P) deficiency and aluminum (Al) toxicity stresses. Selection of genotypes for adaptation to either P deficiency or Al toxicity has sometimes been unsuccessful because these two soil factors often interact. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate eight cowpea genotypes for Al resistance and to study the combined effect of P deficiency and Al toxicity stress on growth, P uptake, and organic acid anion exudation of two genotypes of contrasting Al resistance selected from the first experiment. Relative root inhibition by 30 microM Al ranged from 14% to 60% and differed significantly among the genotypes. Al significantly induced callose formation, particularly in Al-sensitive genotypes. P accumulation was significantly reduced (28% and 95%) by Al application for both the Al-resistant and the Al-sensitive genotypes. Al supply significantly enhanced malate release of root apices of both genotypes. However, the exudation rate was significantly higher in the Al-resistant genotype. P deprivation induced an enhanced malate exudation in the presence of Al only in the Al-resistant genotype IT89KD-391. Citrate exudation rate of the root apices was lower than malate exudation by a factor of about 10, and was primarily enhanced by P deficiency in both genotypes. Al treatment further enhanced citrate exudation in P-sufficient, but not in P-deficient plants. The level of citrate exudation was consistently higher in the Al-resistant genotype IT89KD-391 particularly in presence of Al. It is concluded that the Al-resistant genotype is better adapted to acid Al-toxic and P-deficient soils than the Al-sensitive genotype since both malate and citrate exudation were more enhanced by combined Al and P-deficiency stresses.

COMPARISON OF THE PHOSPHORUS CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT CHINESE FIR CLONES

Background and Aims Phosphorus(P)deficiency is one of the main factors that influence plant productivity in agricultural and forestry systems. Fertilization and soil improvement are the primary practices used to meet the P demands of crops in traditional agriculture and of trees in forestry management. Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), a fast_growing, evergreen coniferous tree with high yield and quality of wood, is the most important tree species of timber plantations in subtropical China. Since Chinese fir plantations range from about 20° to 30° N in latitude and 100° to 120° E in longitude, there are many different genotypes of Chinese fir among the forests in south China. Therefore, it is possible to select the Chinese fir clone with high phosphorus use efficiency. Methods Based on the pot experiment under the different phosphorus deficiency stress (heavy, medium, slight phosphorus deficiency and normal phosphorus supply), the dry matter accumulation, phosphorus absorption efficiency, and phosphorus use efficiency of eight different Chinese fir clones were analyzed to compare their phosphorus characteristics. Key Results There were significant differences in the dry matter accumulation, phosphorus absorption efficiency and phosphorus use efficiency among different clones under phosphorus stress. The dry matter accumulation and phosphorus absorption efficiency of different clones decreased whereas phosphorus use efficiency increased with increasing phosphorus stress. The dry matter accumulation of Clone 8, 9, 24 and 37 were influenced by phosphorus stress less than those of the other clones. Phosphorus stress significantly affected the dry matter accumulation of Clone 23. Higher phosphorus absorption and use efficiency in Clone 8, higher phosphorus absorption efficiency in Clone 24 and 37, and higher phosphorus use efficiency Clone 9 were found under phosphorus stress. However, the phosphorus absorption efficiency and phosphorus use efficiency of Clone 23 were lower than those of the other 7 clones. Conclusion High phosphorus absorption and use efficiency of Chinese fir are the major adaptive strategy under environment with low phosphorus availability.

Screening Technique for Phosphorus Deficiency Stress Tolerance in Wheat Genotypes

Screening Technique for Phosphorus Deficiency Stress Tolerance in Wheat Genotypes

Differential Growth Behaviour of Selected Wheat Genotypes for Phosphorus Deficiency Stress Tolerance I: Growth Characteristics

Differential Growth Behaviour of Selected Wheat Genotypes for Phosphorus Deficiency Stress Tolerance I: Growth Characteristics

Effects of phosphorus deficiency and recovery fertilization on growth, mineral concentration, and ultrastructure of Scots pine needles

During the first year of a 2-year field experiment (1989–1990), 3-year-old Scots pine (Pinussylvestris L.) seedlings were watered with phosphorus-deficient nutrient solutions containing no phosphorus (0%) or 30% of the optimal phosphorus supply. A complete nutrient solution was used as the control. In the second growing period, the seedlings were divided into two groups, a deficiency and a recovery treatment, to follow the further development of, and recovery from, symptoms. Phosphorus contents in both current- and previous-year needles in both deficiency groups decreased clearly during the first growing period. Limited growth was observed at both deficiency levels after 10 weeks of treatment. The first ultrastructural symptom, swelling of cristae and subsequent dilatation of whole mitochondria, was observed after 16 weeks of treatment in the current-year needles. In addition to this symptom, the previous-year needles had an increase in the number and translucency of plastoglobuli, a decrease of granum thylakoids, and an increase in the density of the stroma in chloroplasts. After the second growing period, the same changes were observable in the phosphorus-deficient seedlings. In the young needles grown during the recovery fertilization period, slight swelling of mitochondria was detected and recovery of the previous-year needles was not complete. The results of this experiment suggest that the swelling of mitochondria is a characteristic symptom of phosphorus deficiency at the ultrastructural level in different needle generations. All the symptoms, when occurring together, may be used in identifying a moderate phosphorus-deficiency stress in seedlings.

The role of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas (VAM) in the phosphorus nutrition of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp)

An experiment was conducted to establish the role of VAM in the phosphorus nutrition and early growth of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) cv. Vita 4 in a podzolic soil (Haplustult). The experiment involved four treatments: (1) plants grown in unsterilized soil adequately supplied with phosphorus (240 kg P ha-1), (2) plants grown in unsterilized soil with low phosphorus (10 kg P ha-1), (3) and (4) plants grown in methyl bromide sterilized soil with low phosphorus (10 kg P ha-1). Plants in treatments (1), (2) and (3) were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium. A series of harvests was taken from 14 to 42 days after sowing; 15 harvests at two-day intervals from treatment (2) and 5 harvests at 7-day intervals from the other treatments. Root infection by VAM did not occur in plants grown in the sterilized soil treatments (3) and (4); growth of these plants was poor, and they showed symptoms of severe phosphorus deficiency. Phosphorus concentrations in the youngest fully expanded leaf (YFEL) of plants grown in treatments (3) and (4) were in the range 0.10 to 0.16% at all harvests. Plants which were grown in the unsterilized soil with 240 kg P ha-l (treatment (1)) grew very well; they had a high concentration of phosphorus (0.3 1 to 0.75%) in the YFEL at all harvests and exhibited a delayed and reduced level of infection by VAM. Plants grown in the unsterilized soil with 10 kg P ha-l (treatment (2)) were strongly colonized by VAM; infection was apparent at 14 days after sowing and reached a maximum (85% of root segments colonized) at 36 days after sowing. A strong increase in phosphorus concentration in the YFEL of plants grown in treatment (2) commenced at 22 days after sowing, while an increase in dry matter yield and phosphorus content of the whole tops above that of non-mycorrhizal plants grown in the sterilized soil was observed at 30 days after sowing. The sequence of events leads us to conclude that the recovery of cowpea plants from early phosphorus deficiency stress resulted from increased phosphorus absorption following the development of a mycorrhizal association with the roots.

The influence of CO2 enrichment, phosphorus deficiency and water stress on the growth, conductance and water use of Pinus radiata D. Don

The influence of CO2 enrichment, phosphorus deficiency and water stress on the growth, conductance and water use of Pinus radiata D. Don