ZmPHR1 coordinates root-rhizosphere processes and phosphorus allocation to enhance phosphorus efficiency and yield in maize.

Lateral root (LR) branching is a vital adaptive strategy for plants to optimize nutrient acquisition, particularly under phosphorus deficiency. While auxin triggers LR formation, the molecular link between phosphate (Pi) homeostasis and the developmental competence of xylem-pole-pericycle (XPP) cells in roots remains elusive. In this study, we identified CsSPX2 from the SPX (SYG1/Pho81/XPR1) family as a critical phosphate sensor in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) that is strongly induced by Pi starvation. CRISPR/Cas9-generated CsSPX2 knockout lines displayed reduced lateral root density, shorter lateral roots and abnormal root meristems. The loss of CsSPX2 resulted in phosphate overaccumulation and excessive lignin deposition under Pi-sufficient conditions. Concomitantly, we observed abnormal thickening of the XPP cell walls and subsequently impaired auxin responsiveness at LR initiation sites, as evidenced by diminished DR5::GUS activity. Notably, under Pi-deficient conditions, spx2 mutants exhibited obviously decreased lignin content and significantly reduced thickness of XPP cell wall compared to Pi-sufficient conditions. In addition, the LR developmental defects in spx2 mutants were partially rescued by exogenous application of either a lignin biosynthesis inhibitor or synthetic auxin. Furthermore, CsSPX2 appeared to be important for maintaining the stem cell niche organization and meristematic activity in root tips, as its loss altered quiescent center and columella stem cell behavior and impaired root cap differentiation. Collectively, our findings support a model where CsSPX2 might link phosphate homeostasis to lateral root development through its involvement in XPP cell wall properties and auxin response. This study deepens our understanding of plant nutrition stress responses and provides a key genetic target for developing phosphate-efficient crops.

Cannabis sativa L. is a compelling model species for studying how human selection has shaped plant traits through domestication. Cannabis hemp-type varieties are grown for fibre and seed, whereas drug-types are cultivated for high cannabinoid content in pharmaceutical and recreational use. These contrasting selection criteria have led to divergent physiological and morphological traits, providing a valuable model to investigate underlying molecular and physiological mechanisms. Cultivation of hemp on more marginal soils has favoured a greater capacity to acclimate to nutrient limitations, particularly phosphorus deficiency. However, the mechanisms underlying enhanced phosphorus acclimation in hemp remain poorly understood. Using Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) of RNA-seq data from multiple organs of hemp-type Cannabis grown under contrasting phosphate supplies, we performed a global transcriptome analysis to capture organ-specific and phosphate-responsive gene expression dynamics. This analysis identified twelve co-expression modules capturing coordinated gene expression across organs and phosphate conditions, reflecting processes related to organ function (e.g. root development, fibre production, and flower development) and metabolism (including photosynthesis, nutrient transport, and lipid remodelling), as well as their relationships to physiological traits. Two modules, representing leaf- and root-specific responses, were strongly associated with plant phosphorus status, and cross-comparison with genes under selection during Cannabis domestication showed significant overlap with these modules. Gene regulatory network analysis revealed how gene expression supports prioritisation of resource allocation towards reproductive organs, with the Cannabis homolog of SPX DOMAIN GENE3 (SPX3) identified as a central hub in leaf tissues coordinating the shoot phosphate starvation response. In the root-specific module, root system architecture remodelling was mediated by transcription factors including SCARECROW-LIKE (SCL) family members and a homolog of the C2H2-type transcription factor SENSITIVE TO PROTON RHIZOTOXICITY (STOP). Strigolactones emerged as key hormonal regulators of the root-specific PSR, highlighting their role in phosphate deficiency tolerance in hemp. These findings provide an integrated, organ-specific view of gene networks underlying the phosphate starvation response in hemp and reveal distinct features of nutrient adaptation following domestication. They identify targets for improving nutrient use efficiency in hemp and support comparative studies across Cannabis germplasm.

Predicting alkaline phosphatase in Trichoderma bio machinery as primary mechanism for sustainable gradual phosphate release in soil through statistical modelling supporting growth of Cicer arietinum.

Meta-analysis of the effects of available phosphorus levels and phytase on eggshell quality parameters in laying hens: influence of dose, enzyme origin, and nutritional reduction.

The impact of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) on root–shoot scaling strategies under zinc and phosphorus deficiency remains poorly understood in maize. The aims of this study were (i) To quantify the effects of zinc/phosphorus deficiency on AMF colonization, (ii) to quantify biomass accumulation in different plant parts in the presence of AMF, and (iii) to characterize how AMF alter root–shoot allometric scaling under zinc/phosphorus deficiency. We conducted a pot experiment arranged in RCBD split plot with 6 replications. SUWAN 5819 maize seeds were grown for 22 days under five Hoagland’s solution-based nutrient regimes (+Zn+P, −Zn−P, +Zn−P, −Zn+P, and deionized water), with and without AMF. AMF colonization was highest (49.6%) under −Zn+P contrary to hypothesis 1 which predicted highest colonization under dual deficiency, while the deionized water treatment had the lowest colonization (30.1%). Phosphorus was the dominant factor affecting biomass accumulation with a 2–4-fold reduction in organ dry weights for phosphorus-deficient treatments compared to phosphorus-sufficient treatments. AMF colonization significantly reduced dry weights in +Zn+P by 8.6%, 19.0%, and 47.5% in the leaf, stem, and roots, respectively, consistent with mycorrhiza-induced growth depression (MGD). Nutrient deficiency resulted in root biomass accumulation, consistent with the optimal partitioning theory. AMF increased shoot mass fraction from 50% to 63% in +Zn+P, and from 41% to 52.5% in −Zn−P, suggesting AMF role in modulating biomass accumulation. Root–shoot scaling slopes derived from LMM revealed that zinc deficiency caused negative scaling trajectory, and AMF was associated with positive root–shoot scaling trajectory in the −Zn+P treatment, though the scaling relationship was not confirmed by SMA analysis. These findings highlight nutrient specific AMF-mediated growth dynamics in early vegetative stage.

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major factor limiting crop productivity in many soils worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the potential of seed priming with monopotassium phosphate (200 mmol L-1) to alleviate the adverse effects of P deficiency in Chenopodium quinoa Willd. Seedlings issued from unprimed and primed seeds were cultivated in plastic pots filled with inert sand under P deficient or P sufficient conditions. In plants from unprimed seeds, P deficiency decreased shoot and root growth, leaf P and potassium ion (K+) content, leaf water content, gas-exchange performance, and photosynthetic pigment concentrations, while increasing lipid peroxidation and leaf acid phosphatase activity. Interestingly, monopotassium phosphate (KH2PO4) seed priming alleviated P deficiency stress in quinoa, resulting in significant improvement in shoot (9.9-fold) and root (8.1-fold) growth, as well as photosynthetic activity (five-fold and four-fold increases in net assimilation rate (A) and stomatal conductance (gs), respectively). Chlorophyll content increased four-fold, while carotenoids content increased by 70%, together with an overall improvement in plant nutritional status. This beneficial effect was associated with lower levels of leaf malondialdehyde. However, no significant differences were observed in leaf osmotic potential, anthocyanin content, or acid phosphatase activity between plants derived from primed and unprimed seeds. KH2PO4 seed priming enhances quinoa tolerance to P deficiency through improved photosynthetic integrity, root growth, nutritional status, and strengthened antioxidant defence. Hence, KH2PO4 seed priming appears to be a promising strategy for improving quinoa productivity in calcareous soils. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

While root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is primarily recognized for nitrogen acquisition, it is heavily influenced by phosphorus levels. In natural agroecosystems, nitrogen limitation frequently co-occurs with phosphorus deficiency, yet the role of phosphorus in modulating RNS remains understudied. Recent research in the legume Phaseolus vulgaris shows that phosphorus starvation suppresses nodulation by downregulating the master regulator gene Nodule Inception, mediated by phosphate-responsive factors such as Phosphate Starvation Response-Like 7. We propose an integrated model where phosphate signaling functions as a metabolic checkpoint, balancing carbon availability, nitrogen demand, and phosphorus status. Elucidating how phosphate scarcity rewires these symbiotic gene networks is essential for sustainable agriculture, allowing for the optimization of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in nutrient-depleted environments.

The use of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) is a promising strategy to offset the harmful effect of combined salinity and low phosphorus availability and constitutes an affordable solution to enhance agricultural productivity under co-occurring abiotic stresses. In the present study, we investigate the effect of seed inoculation with different PSB isolates on the responses of barley (Hordeum vulgare) seedlings exposed to salt stress, whether individually applied or in combination with phosphorus deficiency. PSB strains used showed beneficial effect by significantly improving barley response under single and/or combined stresses. Yet, effects were strain- and organ-specific. Considering the plant growth promoting effect, GS4f isolate (Pseudomonas sp.) was the most effective strain in relationship with better water status and photosynthesis activity. Seed inoculation with PSB also reduced Na+ content and enhanced K+ content along with higher phosphorus mobilization (as P accumulation and acid phosphatase activity). This was concomitant with decreased H2O2 production resulting in lower MDA content in stressed roots and leaves of inoculated plants. PSB Inoculation triggered the overall plant antioxidant defense, including enzymatic (SOD, CAT and GPX) under simultaneous salinity and low phosphorus availability. Overall, our findings provide valuable information for prospective production of effective biostimulants based on halotolerant PSB and further highlight the possibility of using this promising eco-friendly approach to improve plant growth in P-deficient and salt-affected soils.

Liver mitochondrial content is reduced in response to dietary crude protein and phosphorus deficiencies in wethers.

OsPLT1 negatively regulates phosphorus deficiency tolerance by modulating nitric oxide-mediated cell wall phosphorus reutilization in rice.

Phosphorus (P) deficiency in soils is commonly addressed through phosphate fertilizers, yet millimeter-scale fertisphere dynamics governing fertilizer-soil interactions remain poorly understood, constraining P-use efficiency optimization. This study employed high-resolution chemical imaging to visualize P release patterns, pH dynamics, and acid phosphatase activity in acidic soil fertispheres of contrasting fertilizers: calcium hypophosphite (fast-acting) and apatite (slow-acting). Calcium hypophosphite exhibited rapid dissolution with peak P flux (442 pg cm-2 s-1) at patch edges within 24 h, coinciding with pH elevation that suppressed enzyme activity. Complete dissolution occurred within 48 h. Conversely, apatite released P steadily over 99 days (peak flux: 13.6 pg cm-2 s-1), with release zones shifting inward as H+ consumption generated alkalinization cores. Temporal analysis revealed a 22-day lag between P flux and pH maxima (R = 0.66). These mechanisms demonstrate the importance of matching fertilizer solubility with soil chemistry for precision P management, maximizing bioavailability while minimizing environmental losses.

Maize (Zea Mays) is one of the world's most important staple crops, providing food for humans and feed for livestock. However, its production is threatened by a range of stresses, including crop diseases, which significantly reduce yields, particularly in smallholder farming systems. Traditional disease detection methods, such as visual inspection, are often labour-intensive, subjective, and prone to error, leading to delayed interventions and widespread crop losses. This study uses unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing and machine learning (ML) to investigate the feasibility of detecting maize leaf diseases in a smallholder farm located in the Mopani District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. UAV-derived vegetation indices including NDVI, GNDVI, and NDRE were combined with UAV multispectral bands and the three ML algorithms, namely - support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), to first distinguish healthy from diseased plants and then to classify specific maize diseases. The SVM algorithm achieved the highest accuracy in both, distinguishing healthy and diseased crops from other land cover classes (91.73%) and in distinguishing specific diseases (89.41%). Among the diseases identified, Southern Corn Leaf Blight was classified with the highest user's accuracy, while phosphorus deficiency had the lowest user's classification accuracy. The results demonstrate the potential of integrating UAV-based multispectral imaging and ML for precision agriculture by providing timely, spatially detailed disease information that enables targeted management practices, reducing crop losses and enhancing food security for smallholder farmers.

Phosphorus Starvation Tolerance 1 in rice (OsPSTOL1, known as Phosphorus uptake 1, Pup1) is a receptor-like cytoplasmic protein kinase that confers tolerance to phosphorus deficiency. The OsPSTOL1 gene possesses a Ser/Thr kinase and shows high amino-acid sequence similarity with the leaf rust receptor-like kinase (OsLrK10). We hypothesise that the putative wheat genes TaPSTOL1 and TaLrK10 have a common ancestral origin and that putative TaPSTOL1 diverged recently, acquiring new structural modifications and biological functions in the process. In this study, we identified all putative TaPSTOL1 homeologs and examined the evolutionary relationship between TaPSTOL1 and TaLrK10 in Triticum species. Our results indicate that the putative TaPSTOL1 diverged recently without possessing the amino-terminal domain, which is a typical characteristic of TaLrK10. We observed numerous conversion tracts between these two genes, and the substitution pattern of randomly selected amino acids indicates that dynamic selection pressures acted on both genes. The putative TaPSTOL1 shows high nucleotide diversity compared to TaLrK10 within Triticum species. Further, a multiple-sequence analysis reveals that the third exon of TaLrK10 appears to have been duplicated and diverged as a putative single-exon-based TaPSTOL1 in bread wheat. Overall, our comparative analysis indicates that both TaPSTOL1 and TaLrK10 appear to have diverged from a common ancestor, acquiring distinct structural organisations and biological functions.

Genetic Variation and phytase1 Gene-Based Regulation of Grain Phytase Activity for Improving Nutritional Phosphorus Bioavailability in Maize.

Context The spatial interactions between agricultural intensification and soil health in upland agroecosystems, like the Eastern Ghats of India, remain poorly understood, constraining the scope of targeted interventions. Aim This research aims to delineate agricultural intensification zones across elevation gradients and to compare soil health across these zones. Method A semi-structured questionnaire survey was conducted among 372 farmers, to record data on cropping intensity, agrochemical inputs, fallow period, irrigation, and mechanization practices. Composite soil samples (n = 378) were collected through a systematic grid (5 km × 5 km) sampling approach to ensure spatial representativeness. Physico-chemical analysis of these samples was conducted (23 parameters); subsequently, the Soil Health Index (SHI) was computed. Further, the Agricultural Intensification Index (AII) was computed considering five different variables. Key results Agricultural intensification has seemingly weakened soil health, with a spatial negative correlation between AII and SHI (r = −0.64, P < 0.05). The AII values varied from 0.23 to 0.91, identifying Jeypore, Borigumma, Kundra, Kotpad, and Boipariguda as high-intensity hotspots (Getis-Ord Gi*, P < 0.01). The SHI ranged between 0.31 (poor) and 0.86 (very good). The highly intensified areas were distinguished by low organic carbon (0.42–0.65%), lower nitrogen availability (145–182 kg/ha), and extreme phosphorus deficiency (<1 mg/kg), while the low-intensity zones were represented by higher organic carbon (>1.8%), well-balanced macro-nutrient proportion, and better water holding capacity (>65%). The maximum overlap/common grids were found between Poor SHI and High AII (2283; 20.6%), and the minimum was between Very Good SHI and Very High AII (25; 0.2%). The spatial variability of the AII–SHI relationship was further validated through regression analysis (ordinary least squares R2 = 0.57; geographical weighted regression R2 = 0.74) with local deviations attributed to micro-environmental conditions and management interventions. Conclusion This bi-index approach is a first-of-its-kind attempt globally, and was experimented with, through this study, in India’s heterogeneous upland agro-ecosystems, where it was anticipated that socioeconomic heterogeneity and micro-environmental heterogeneity modulate the AII–SHI interactions. Implications The study findings highlight unregulated intensification in vulnerable uplands, thereby accelerating soil health decline and providing a spatial framework to guide sustainable intensification approaches.

Overexpression of PbWRKY66 negatively regulate phosphate uptake and root-to-shoot distribution in Arabidopsis.

Low-phosphorus stress induces GmSTOP1-3-mediated organic acid exudation to recruit phosphate-solubilizing bacteria for organic phosphorus mineralization in soybean rhizosphere

Many agroecosystems face nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) or potassium (K) deficiencies due to imbalanced or insufficient nutrient replenishment after biomass harvest. How this affects the symbiosis between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and the abundance of exploration-based AMF guilds (rhizophilic, edaphophilic and ancestral) remains largely unknown. We studied a 70-yr nutrient deficiency experiment in a managed grassland in central Austria, where aboveground biomass was harvested three times annually. N, P and K were fully, partially or not replenished, causing long-term nutrient deficiencies and imbalances. We analysed AMF communities in soil and roots by DNA/RNA amplicon sequencing and fatty acid biomarkers, alongside soil and plant community properties. Soil AMF communities were affected by N and P deficiencies, while root AMF communities were most susceptible to K deficiency, showing up to 50% biomass reduction, particularly when N was abundant. We observed a shift from rhizophilic to ancestral guilds under P deficiency in soil, and under K deficiency in roots. Families within each guild, particularly ancestral, showed differential responses, indicating complementary nutrient specializations at the family level. Our findings underscore the previously unrecognized role of K deficiency in AMF symbiosis and suggest the existence of nutrient-related functional subgroups within exploration-based AMF guilds.

Phosphorus is an essential element for plant growth, and its deficiency severely limits crop productivity. To explore genetic resources for improving phosphorus use efficiency, this study investigated the differential low-phosphorus tolerance mechanisms of two kudzu (Pueraria lobata) germplasms from Australia (tolerant) and Jiangsu, China (sensitive) using hydroponics, RNA-seq, and WGCNA. The results showed that the Australian germplasm exhibited superior low-phosphorus tolerance through root morphological plasticity, which was characterized by increased root length and tip number under low phosphorus (0.05 mmol L-1 KH2PO4); enhanced reactive oxygen species scavenging, with higher peroxidase and catalase activities under extremely low phosphorus (0.005 mmol L-1 KH2PO4), and extensive transcriptome reprogramming, including 8896 upregulated genes in response to phosphorus deficiency. In contrast, the Jiangsu germplasm showed limited adaptive responses, with reduced root hairs and biomass under stress. WGCNA partitioned 21,734 expressed genes into 20 co-expression modules, among which the turquoise and light green modules showed significant correlations with phosphorus treatments and phenotypic traits. Genes in the turquoise module were primarily enriched in oxidative phosphorylation and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways, whereas the light green module was significantly enriched in ribosome-related pathways. Five hub genes, ABCG5, TALDO, VAMP7B, EEF1AS, and RPLP0, were identified as core components of these modules. Collectively, these findings establish the Australian kudzu as a valuable germplasm resource for improving phosphorus use efficiency in crops and provide key molecular targets for precision breeding.