Plant concepts for mineral acquisition and allocation

Plant biotechnology is expected to make a major contribution to the steady increase of crop production in the near future. The improvement of mineral assimilation has to meet the challenges of reducing fertilizer application in developed countries, preserving the environment, enabling sustainable ag riculture management and generating low-input crops with increased performa nce in areas where soil infertility limits productivity. Natural genetic re sources and engineered plants will help to achieve the implementation of tr aits for improved mineral assimilation.