Recent progress in plant nutrition research: Cross-talk between nutrients, plant physiology and soil microorganisms

Abstract

Mineral nutrients taken up from the soil become incorporated into a variety of important compounds with structural and physiological roles in plants. We summarize how plant nutrients are linked to many metabolic pathways, plant hormones and other biological processes. We also focus on nutrient uptake, describing plantmicrobe interactions, plant exudates, root architecture, transporters and their applications. Plants need to survive in soils with mineral concentrations that vary widely. Describing the relationships between nutrients and biological processes will enable us to understand the molecular basis for signaling, physiological damage and responses to mineral stresses. © The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved.