Plant response to phosphate deficiency
Phosphate, which is essential for plant growth, is often a limiting nutrient because of its low availability and mobility in soil. This analysis showed the activation of complete metabolic routes in Arabidopsis thaliana plantlets grown in phosphate-limiting conditions. In particular, it revealed the induction of nearly 612 genes and the repression of 254 others after ranging durations of phosphate-limited conditions in leaves and/or roots. These genes are involved in numerous functions, e.g., metabolic routes contributing to the remobilisation of phosphate, compartmentalisation of metal cations, transport, signal transduction, regulation of transcription, growth and development. These findings help to achieve a fuller understanding of the molecular processes underlying these modifications.