NPK macronutrients and microRNA homeostasis

Abstract

Macronutrients are essential elements for plant growth and development. In natural, non-cultivated systems, the availability of macronutrients is not a limiting factor of growth, due to fast recycling mechanisms. However, their availability might be an issue in modern agricultural practices, since soil has been frequently over exploited. From a crop management perspective, the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are three important limiting factors and therefore frequently added as fertilizers. NPK are among the nutrients that have been reported to alter post-embryonic root developmental processes and consequently, impairs crop yield. To cope with nutrients scarcity, plants have evolved several mechanisms involved in metabolic, physiological, and developmental adaptations. In this scenario, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as additional key regulators of nutrients uptake and assimilation. Some studies have demonstrated the intrinsic relation between miRNAs and their targets, and how they can modulate plants to deal with the NPK availability. In this review, we focus on miRNAs and their regulation of targets involved in NPK metabolism. In general, NPK starvation is related with miRNAs that are involved in root-architectural changes and uptake activity modulation. We further show that several miRNAs were discovered to be involved in plant–microbe symbiosis during N and P uptake, and in this way we present a global view of some studies that were conducted in the last years. The integration of current knowledge about miRNA-NPK signaling may help future studies to focus in good candidates genes for the development of important tools for plant nutritional breeding.

The role of microRNA in abiotic stress response in plants

“…Several reviews published in 2015 focused on the role miRNAs play in regulating nutrient metabolism in plants [38][39][40].…”

Ion Homeostasis Response to Nutrient-Deficiency Stress in Plants

“…Special attention is paid to the implementation of plant responses via NO 3 − and K + root transport and regulation of ion distribution in cell compartments. These responses are strongly dependent on plant species, as well as severity and duration of nutrient deficiency.Keywords: nutrient deficiency, ion homeostasis, nitrate, potassium, ion transport mechanisms, vacuolar and cytosolic ion pools Cell Growth 2 of soils, it might be the case in the modern agricultural practice [3]. In particular, deficiency of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) is quite common in developing and least developed countries, especially in rice and wheat production in Asia, Africa and Central and South America [4].…”

“…Keywords: nutrient deficiency, ion homeostasis, nitrate, potassium, ion transport mechanisms, vacuolar and cytosolic ion pools Cell Growth 2 of soils, it might be the case in the modern agricultural practice [3]. In particular, deficiency of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) is quite common in developing and least developed countries, especially in rice and wheat production in Asia, Africa and Central and South America [4].…”

Modelling the response of the PIF plantain seedlings toTithonia diversifoliaand clam shells treatments in the nursery

“…Two 2 essential elements in Tithonia diversifolia could explant this models' impact on total proteins 3 and total polyphenols. Nitrogen involved in the preparation of macromolecules and 4 potassium known as an activator of different enzymes[11][21] notably the phenylalanine 5 ammonia lyase (PAL), involved in the biosynthesis of the polyphenol compounds in plants 6[22]-[23].7Overall, the treatment T5 is the most impacting one for the production of the improved PIF 8 plantain seedlings in the nursery. It is based on Tithonia diversifolia liquid extract, and act as 9 a fertilizer and fungicide in the control of disease of PIF seedling as previously reported for 10 another pathosystem[14][20].…”