Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2017, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (1): 89-101.DOI: 10.11983/CBB16231

Special Issue: 水稻生物学专辑 (2017年52卷1期)

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Adaption of Plants to Potassium Deficiency and Strategies to Improve Potassium Use Efficiency

Guang Chen1,2*, Zhenyu Gao1, Guohua Xu2   

  1. 1State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, China
    2College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
  • Received:2016-11-29 Accepted:2016-12-12 Online:2017-01-01 Published:2017-01-23
  • Contact: Chen Guang
  • About author:

    # Co-first authors

Abstract: Potassium ion (K+) is the most abundant cation in plants, and it plays an essential role in a number of biochemical and physiological processes during plant growth and development. Potassium deficiency in plants confines root growth, decreases the root to shoot ratio, and limits the transport of assimilates via the phloem. Limited photoassimilate production coupled with transport inhibition can lead to reduction in plant biomass. Therefore, increasing the efficiency of K+ uptake, transport and utilization in plants is important for improving crop productivity. In this review, we summarize the major advances in understanding the physiological responses of plants to K+ deficiency and propose 4 strategies to enhance K+ use efficiency in plants. Further more, We discuss the prospects for increasing K+ acquisition and use efficiency by plants.