Morphological and physiological responses of plant root growth to low phosphorus stress
Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient both as a part of several key plant structure compounds and as a catalysis role in the conversion of numerous key biochemical reactions in plants. Low phosphate (Pi) availability in soils is one of the major factors limiting growth and development of plants. The rates of phosphate fertilizers applied to farmlands are increasing, but global P reserves are being depleted every year. The changes in root morphology and architecture are very important for plant adaptation to low P stress and for plant high efficient uptake and utilization of P. This paper summarizes the research progresses in the morphological and physiological responses of plant root growth to low P stress. The changes of root architecture, shoot-root ratio, root hairs, lateral root, and root clusters are involved in the Pi-starvation responses. Those changes that occur in root architecture under Pi starvation consist of reduction of primary root growth, an increase in the growth of lateral roots, and an increase in root hair length and density. The possible physiological and molecular mecha-nisms regulating root characteristics under low P supply may be related with hormones, transcript factors, some key genes,sugar, and P concentration in plants.
NETL
NSTL
万方数据
维普
