Uptake, subcellular distribution, and translocation of foliar-applied phosphorus: Short-term effects on ion relations in deficient young maize plants

Foliar application of phosphite reduces grain weight of soybean facing postflowering phosphorus deficiency

“…Supporting this view, our results revealed that, except for P 100 plants at physiological harvest, P 20 and P 100 plants receiving Pi had higher both grain P concentration and grain weight than the control (Figures 1C,D and 2E,F). This agrees with the notion that sink growth in P‐deficient plants is nutrient‐limited (Wissuwa et al., 2005) and that Pi applied to the foliage is rapidly translocated to sites of demand (Görlach et al., 2021). Finally, the amelioration of nutritional stress in the grains by supplementary foliar application of Pi minimized yield penalty in soybean plants facing postflowering P deficiencies compared to those sufficiently supplied with the nutrient (Figure 3A,B).…”

Foliar P Application Cannot Fully Restore Photosynthetic Capacity, P Nutrient Status, and Growth of P Deficient Maize (Zea mays L.)

“…Plants received a onetime foliar spray. Foliar treatments were carried out as previously described by Görlach et al [ 56 ].…”

“…In particular, the effects on biomass formation, adequate timing, as well as the optimal concentration of foliar P application were the focus of investigations. In recent years, some foliar P application studies were carried out with P deficient plant species such as wheat [ 25 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ], barley [ 20 , 21 , 53 , 54 , 55 ] or maize [ 28 , 56 , 57 ]. It was shown that P deficiency can lead to alterations in the composition of plant tissues and epidermal structures such as stomata and trichomes, which ultimately affects the rate of uptake of P via foliage.…”

“…While for wheat, the number of stomata and trichomes was strongly reduced and P foliar absorption no longer takes place [ 25 ], for barley mainly the tissue structure (cuticle, epidermal cell wall, polysaccharides) was changed and P continued to be absorbed, albeit at a reduced rate which could not restore functionality [ 53 ]. Foliar P application in P deficient maize plants led to an increase in P concentration and a short-term increase in biomass [ 28 , 56 , 57 ]. Using high-resolution bioimaging techniques, Arsic et al [ 53 , 54 ] recently showed that the uptake of P was mainly associated with trichomes and fiber cells, while P was subsequently translocated via bundle sheath extensions.…”

“…Recent studies on foliar P fertilisation in maize shed light on key agronomical parameters as well as on translocation processes [ 28 , 56 , 57 ]. Nevertheless, there are still many knowledge gaps for gaining a complete understanding of the absorption, translocation, and influence on plant physiological processes of foliar-applied P, especially within longer experimental setups.…”