Mineral nutrition of crops: fundamental mechanisms and implications

Abstract

Contents About the Editors * Contributors * Preface * Chapter 1. Biology and Chemistry of Nutrient Availability in the Rhizosphere * Introduction * Influence of Rhizodeposition on Microbial Ecology * Plant Modifications of Rhizosphere Chemistry * Plant Responses to Micronutrient Deficiencies * Microbial Interactions Influencing Plant Nutrition * Bioaugmentation of the Rhizosphere * Conclusions * Chapter 2. Kinetics of Nutrient Uptake by Plant Cells * Introduction * Transport Mechanisms * Control of Uptake * Enzyme Kinetics and Membrane Transport * Dual Isotherms and Multiphasic Kinetics * Induction and Repression of Transport Systems * Root Structure and Observed Kinetics * Conclusions * Chapter 3. Molecular Biology of Nutrient Transporters in Plant Membranes * Introduction * Isolation of Ion Transporters * Common Molecular Features of Plant Nutrient Transporters * Potassium Transport * Sulfate Transport * Phosphate Transport * Nitrogen Transport * Tools for Physiological Studies * Implications for Agriculture and the Environment * Chpater 4. Long-Distance Nutrient Transport in Plants and Movement into Developing Grains * Introduction * Long-Distance Transport in Xylem and Phloem * Pathway of Nutrient Transport into Developing Grains * Conclusions * * Chapter 5. The Significance of Root Size for Plant Nutrition in Intensive Horticulture * Introduction * The Role of Root Size and Container Volume in Nutrient Uptake * Plant Response to Container Volume and Nutrient Concentrations * Effect of Container Volume and Nitrate Concentration on Nitrogen and Water Uptake Rates * Tomato Response to Root Treatments in Hydroponics * Internal Regulation of Nutrient Uptake * Concluding Remarks * Chapter 6. Role of Mineral Nutrients in Photosynthesis and Yield Formation * Introduction * Photosynthesis and Related Processes * Role of Mineral Nutrients in Yield Formation * Conclusions * Chapter 7. The Role of Nutrition in Crop Resistance and Tolerance to Diseases * Introduction * Effect of Disease on Nutrition Status of Plants * Characterizing Nutrient Interactions with Disease * Strategies to Reduce Disease Severity by Improving Nutrition * Mechanisms of Disease Control with Nutrition * Using Nutrition for Disease Control * Examples of Nutrient-Disease Interactions * Summary/Conclusions * Chapter 8. Importance of Seed Mineral Nutrient Reserves in Crop Growth and Development * Introduction * General Considerations * Importance of Phloem Transport and Transfer Cells * Phloem-Mobile Nutrient Elements * Variable Phloem-Mobile Nutrient Elements * Conditionally Phloem-Mobile Nutrient Elements * General Conclusions * Chapter 9. Physiological Mechanisms Underlying Differential Nutrient Efficiency of Crop Genotypes * Introduction * Nutrient Efficiency * Mechanisms of Zinc Efficiency * Modification of Phenotypic Expression of Zinc Efficiency * Mechanisms of Iron Efficiency * Mechanisms of Manganese Efficiency * Mechanisms of Phosphorus Efficiency * Breeding for Nutrient Efficiency * Concluding Remarks * Chapter 10. Breeding Crops for Improved Nutrient Efficiency: Soybean and Wheat as Case Studies * Introduction * Nutrient Efficiency and Tolerance to Ion Toxicity: Inheritancy and Breeding Strategies * Screening Techniques for the Evaluation of Nutrient Efficiency * Summary and Conclusions * Chapter 11. Monitoring Water and Nutrient Fluxes Down the Profile: Closing the Nutrient Budget * Introduction * Measurement of Soil Profile Concentrations of Nutrient Ions * Measurement of Soil Water content * Calculation of Soil Water Fluxes and Drainage * Calulation of Nutrient Fluxes * Field Studies of Nutrient Movement * Conclusions * Chapter 12. Mechanistic Simulation Models for a Better Understanding of Nutrient Uptake from Soil * Introduction * The Soil-Root System * Modeling Approaches * Validation of the Models * Evaluation of Soil and Plant Properties by Sensitivity Analysis * General Conclusions and Final Remarks * Index * Reference Notes Included