Mineral Nutrient Depletion Affects Plant Development and Crop Yield

Abstract

Optimal plant development depends on the availability of light, water, favourable temperatures and mineral nutrients. Insufficient availability of plant mineral nutrients leads to growth impairments and yield depressions. In natural environments as well as in agricultural systems, mineral nutrient availability is changing in space and time over the growth season of a plant. Therefore, plants have developed adaptation strategies to cope with nutrient deficiencies. Fully understanding these mechanisms at the molecular level is a necessity for breeding nutrient use efficient crops. Plant systems biology approaches contribute to this endeavour as agriculture and plant breeding face-increasing challenges to achieve sustainable and effective agricultural production.