Nasr Esfahani M, Koch L, Hofmann J, Sonnewald S, Sonnewald U (2025)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2025
Book Volume: 123
Article Number: e70445
Journal Issue: 5
DOI: 10.1111/tpj.70445
While plants adapt to fluctuating phosphorus (P) availability in soils by enhancing phosphate acquisition or optimizing internal P-utilization, the spatiotemporal dynamics of these responses, particularly in crops, remain poorly understood. This study systematically investigated how and when potato organs respond to fluctuating P availability across different developmental stages using transcriptomic, metabolomic, and physiological analyses of leaves, roots, and tubers. Transcriptomic data revealed dynamic, organ- and stage-specific responses to P-deficiency, with the highest number of differentially expressed genes in leaves before tuberization and in roots during tuberization. P-deficiency led to a marked accumulation of proline in tubers and nitrogen-rich amino acids, particularly glutamine and asparagine, in roots and leaves. Carbohydrate metabolism exhibited severity- and time-dependent changes: severe P-deficiency triggered earlier, stronger, but transient carbohydrate accumulation, whereas medium P-deficiency led to a gradual and sustained increase in leaves and roots. Hexose phosphates and organic acids accumulated in roots under P-stress, especially severe P-stress, during early vegetative growth, followed by a marked reduction during tuberization. During tuber filling, severe P-deficiency reduced sucrose and starch in roots, decreased leaf starch but increased leaf sucrose, likely due to impaired translocation, and a decrease in tuber sucrose alongside increased starch due to reduced degradation. Under medium P-deficiency, sucrose and starch remained stable in leaves and tubers but declined in roots, reflecting a moderate shift in carbon allocation that maintained tuber development at the expense of root metabolism. These findings highlight the spatiotemporal regulation of metabolic and molecular responses to P-deficiency in potato and provide insights for improving nutrient use efficiency and stress resilience in crops.
APA:
Nasr Esfahani, M., Koch, L., Hofmann, J., Sonnewald, S., & Sonnewald, U. (2025). Organ-specific transcriptional and metabolic adaptations of potato plants to limited phosphate availability prior and after tuberization. Plant Journal, 123(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70445
MLA:
Nasr Esfahani, Maryam, et al. "Organ-specific transcriptional and metabolic adaptations of potato plants to limited phosphate availability prior and after tuberization." Plant Journal 123.5 (2025).
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