By Jamie Martin
Food production depends heavily on phosphorus-based fertilizers, yet much of what is applied is lost, leaving soils depleted and harming long-term crop performance. To build a more sustainable future, scientists are studying how plants naturally cope with nutrient shortages.
Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered a molecular pathway that allows plants to sense phosphorus deficiency and slow their flowering. This developmental delay helps plants survive difficult conditions and use their limited resources more efficiently. The study, published in Developmental Cell, offers a clearer understanding of how nutrient signals become developmental decisions.
“This is the first time we have seen such a direct link between nutrient status, protein movement inside the cell and control of flowering time,” said Associate Professor Hatem Rouached, senior author and faculty member in MSU’s Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences.
“This discovery helps explain how plants translate nutrient stress into developmental timing. By understanding that mechanism, we can begin designing crops that flower and yield optimally even in nutrient-poor environments.”
The research team found that a protein called bGLU25 plays a central role. In normal phosphorus conditions, bGLU25 sits in the endoplasmic reticulum. When phosphorus becomes scarce, another protein, SCPL50, cuts bGLU25 and releases it into the cytosol. This movement acts as a nutrient-controlled switch inside the plant.
Once in the cytosol, bGLU25 binds to a partner protein, AtJAC1, which traps a third protein, GRP7. Because GRP7 normally regulates the Flowering Locus C gene, trapping it outside the nucleus boosts FLC activity and delays flowering. This process helps plants conserve energy until conditions improve.
Scientists believe this mechanism is not limited to Arabidopsis. Evidence suggests similar systems exist in crops such as rice, creating opportunities to breed varieties that perform well in nutrient-poor soils. By understanding these natural strategies, plant scientists hope to design “nutrient-smart” crops that reduce fertilizer use, protect the environment, and maintain stable yields.
This discovery marks an important step towards sustainable crop production, offering a blueprint for future farming that relies less on diminishing phosphorus reserves.
Photo Credit: istock-pkujiahe
Categories: National