Phosphate acquisition

Phosphorus is one of the major plant nutrients that is least available in t he soil. Consequently, plants have developed numerous morphological, physio logical, biochemical, and molecular adaptations to acquire phosphate (Pi). Enhanced ability to acquire Pi and altered gene expression are the hallmark s of plant adaptation to Pi deficiency. The intricate mechanisms involved i n maintaining Pi homeostasis reflect the complexity of Pi acquisition and t ranslocation in plants. Recent discoveries of multiple Pi transporters have opened up opportunities to study the molecular basis of Pi acquisition by plants. An increasing number of genes are now known to be activated under P i starvation. Some of these genes may be involved in Pi acquisition, transf er, and signal transduction during Pi stress. This review provides an overv iew of plant adaptations leading to enhanced Pi acquisition, with special e mphasis on recent developments in the molecular biology of Pi acquisition.