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Signalling mechanisms integrating root and shoot responses to changes in the nitrogen supply.

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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>02/2005
<mark>Journal</mark>Photosynthesis Research
Issue number2
Volume83
Number of pages12
Pages (from-to)239-250
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

During their life cycle, plants must be able to adapt to wide variations in the supply of soil nitrogen (N). Changes in N availability, and in the relative concentrations of NO3 −and NH4 +, are known to have profound regulatory effects on the N uptake systems in the root, on C and N metabolism throughout the plant, and on root and shoot morphology. Optimising the plant’s responses to fluctuations in the N supply requires co-ordination of the pathways of C and N assimilation, as well as establishment of the appropriate allocation of resources between root and shoot growth. Achieving this integration of responses at the whole plant level implies long-distance signaling mechanisms that can communicate information about the current availability of N from root-to-shoot, and information about the C/N status of the shoot in the reverse direction. In this review we will discuss recent advances which have contributed to our understanding of these long-range signaling pathways.