Genetic approaches to enhancing phosphorus-use efficiency (PUE) in crops: challenges and directions

Abstract

Abstract. Many soils have intrinsically low concentrations of available phosphorus (P), which is a major limitation to crop and pasture growth. Regular applications of P have underpinned agricultural productivity internationally, and fertiliser use now constitutes one of the largest variable input costs to farming. Globally, high-quality reserves of P are being depleted and price increases are likely in the future. In addition, the effects of P pollution on water quality are attracting legislative regulation. Hence, there is a need to improve P-use efficiency (PUE) in farming systems.Progress in improving PUE has been limited for several reasons, including: inconsistent definitions of PUE, inappropriate phenotyping, incomplete understanding of the controls of P uptake, lack of field validation, and little consideration of genotype  environment interactions that affect the expression of PUE. With greater consideration of these limitations, the powerful array of molecular and genomic tools currently available promises considerable advances in developing more P-efficient crops. Stronger interaction between molecular science and the traditional disciplines of plant breeding, crop physiology, soil science, and agronomy will allow new opportunities to study genetic differences in PUE, bringing P-efficient crops closer to reality.

Advances and Perspectives to Improve the Phosphorus Availability in Cropping Systems for Agroecological Phosphorus Management

“…In spite of some successes (Chin et al, 2011), there have been few applications, due in particular to a poor understanding of physiological processes involved, difficulties in field phenotyping, and little consideration of genotype x environment interaction (GxE) interactions (Bovill et al, 2013). Plant adaptation strategies to enhance access to P exploit soil exploration and mobilization (reviewed as foraging and mining strategies in .…”

Genetic regulation of growth and nutrient content under phosphorus deficiency in the wild barley introgression library S42IL

“…Phosphorus (P), available to plants as phosphate, is a major macronutrient in plants and plays a crucial role in many life processes (Bovill, Huang, & McDonald, ). Phosphate promotes both shoot and root growth and is involved in key physiological processes such as energy storage, photosynthesis activity and cell division.…”

“…Later on, the barley ILs were also used to detect QTLs for drought tolerance (Honsdorf, March, Berger, Tester, & Pillen, 2014;Honsdorf, March, Hecht, Eglinton, & Pillen, 2014) and nitrogen stress tolerance, which were studied in greenhouses (Schnaithmann & Pillen, 2013) and in hydroculture (Hoffmann, Maurer, & Pillen, 2012). Phosphorus (P), available to plants as phosphate, is a major macronutrient in plants and plays a crucial role in many life processes (Bovill, Huang, & McDonald, 2013). Phosphate promotes both shoot and root growth and is involved in key physiological processes such as energy storage, photosynthesis activity and cell division.…”

Ways to Improve the Efficiency of Phosphorus Nutrition in Plants

“…Рівні ортофосфату в більшості природних і сільськогосподарських екосистем субоптимальні. Тільки 10-20 % фосфору добрив використовується в рік його внесення [10]. Р і у ґрунті через високу реакційну здатність швидко іммобілізується з катіонами кальцію і магнію у вапнистих ґрунтах або алюмінію та заліза в кислих ґрунтах.…”

“…Проте запаси фосфатів материнських порід виснажуються. Щорічна загальна потреба у фосфоритах для виробництва добрив становить близько 15 млн т. За сьогоднішніх темпів видобутку, за різними оцінками, очікується повне виснаження запасів фосфоритів через 50-400 років [10,12,20,25].…”