Role of potassium in governing photosynthetic processes and plant yield

Abstract

The potassium (K) role is very important for plants; indeed it is an essential macronutrient and has a several metabolic functions, and one of them is implicant on photosynthesis process, growth, and development and stress resistance under K deficiency. Although the K requirement changes during phenological plant stages and due to environmental factors, we, in an undifferentiated way, have put the focus specifically on the role of potassium in the Hill reaction and Calvin and Benson cycle of the photosynthesis. In the Hill reaction, the main role is associated with generation of NADPH and ATP, together with ionic equilibria, electron transport, and proton-motive force. In the Calvin and Benson cycle, the main role is associated with CO2 fixation and sugar production and transport and hence with partitioning of photoassimilates. Special attention, we have put in the regulation of photoassimilates and its distribution as future directions, because under K deficiency, the biosynthesis of sugar, transport, and distribution in the plant are limited. More studies at the molecular level are required to elucidate mechanisms and regulatory point that underlie of the complex network of biochemical relationships.