Agricultural production continues to be constrained by a number of biotic and abiotic factors that can reduce crop yield quantity and quality. Potassium (K) is an essential nutrient that affects most of the biochemical and physiological processes that influence plant growth and metabolism. It also contributes to the survival of plants exposed to various biotic and abiotic stresses. The following review focuses on the emerging role of K in defending against a number of biotic and abiotic stresses, including diseases, pests, drought, salinity, cold and frost and waterlogging. The availability of K and its effects on plant growth, anatomy, morphology and plant metabolism are discussed. The physiological and molecular mechanisms of K function in plant stress resistance are reviewed. This article also evaluates the potential for improving plant stress resistance by modifying K fertilizer inputs and highlights the future needs for research about the role of K in agriculture.

SummaryPlant phosphate (Pi) transporters mediate the uptake and translocation of this nutrient within plants. A total of 13 sequences in the rice (Oryza sativa) genome can be identified as belonging to the Pi transporter (Pht1) family. Here, we report on the expression patterns, biological properties and the physiological roles of two members of the family: OsPht1;2 (OsPT2) and OsPht1;6 (OsPT6). Expression of both genes increased significantly under Pi deprivation in roots and shoots. By using transgenic rice plants expressing the GUS reporter gene, driven by their promoters, we detected that OsPT2 was localized exclusively in the stele of primary and lateral roots, whereas OsPT6 was expressed in both epidermal and cortical cells of the younger primary and lateral roots. OsPT6, but not OsPT2, was able to complement a yeast Pi uptake mutant in the highaffinity concentration range. Xenopus oocytes injected with OsPT2 mRNA showed increased Pi accumulation and a Pi-elicited depolarization of the cell membrane electrical potential, when supplied with mM external concentrations. Both results show that OsPT2 mediated the uptake of Pi in oocytes. In transgenic rice, the knock-down of either OsPT2 or OsPT6 expression by RNA interference significantly decreased both the uptake and the long-distance transport of Pi from roots to shoots. Taken together, these data suggest OsPT6 plays a broad role in Pi uptake and translocation throughout the plant, whereas OsPT2 is a low-affinity Pi transporter, and functions in translocation of the stored Pi in the plant.

The impact of agricultural management on global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) is not well documented. A long-term fertilizer experiment in Chinese double rice-cropping systems initiated in 1990 was used in this study to gain an insight into a complete greenhouse gas accounting of GWP and GHGI. The six fertilizer treatments included inorganic fertilizer [nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer (NP), nitrogen and potassium fertilizer (NK), and balanced inorganic fertilizer (NPK)], combined inorganic/organic fertilizers at full and reduced rate (FOM and ROM), and no fertilizer application as a control. Methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) fluxes were measured using static chamber method from November 2006 through October 2009, and the net ecosystem carbon balance was estimated by the changes in topsoil (0-20 cm) organic carbon (SOC) density over the 10-year period 1999-2009. Longterm fertilizer application significantly increased grain yields, except for no difference between the NK and control plots. Annual topsoil SOC sequestration rate was estimated to be 0.96 t C ha À1 yr À1 for the control and 1.01-1.43 t C ha À1 yr À1 for the fertilizer plots. Long-term inorganic fertilizer application tended to increase CH 4 emissions during the flooded rice season and significantly increased N 2 O emissions from drained soils during the nonrice season. Annual mean CH 4 emissions ranged from 621 kg CH 4 ha À1 for the control to 1175 kg CH 4 ha À1 for the FOM plots, 63-83% of which derived from the late-rice season. Annual N 2 O emission averaged 1.15-4.11 kg N 2 O-N ha À1 in the double rice-cropping systems. Compared with the control, inorganic fertilizer application slightly increased the net annual GWPs, while they were remarkably increased by combined inorganic/organic fertilizer application. The GHGI was lowest for the NP and NPK plots and highest for the FOM and ROM plots. The results of this study suggest that agricultural economic viability and GHGs mitigation can be simultaneously achieved by balanced fertilizer application.

The high affinity nitrate transport system (HATS) plays an important role in rice nitrogen acquisition because, even under flooded anaerobic cultivation when NH(4)(+) dominates, significant nitrification occurs on the root surface. In the rice genome, four NRT2 and two NAR2 genes encoding HATS components have been identified. One gene OsNRT2.3 was mRNA spliced into OsNRT2.3a and OsNRT2.3b and OsNAR2.1 interacts with OsNRT2.1/2.2 and OsNRT2.3a to provide nitrate uptake. Using promoter-GUS reporter plants and semi-quantitative RT-PCR analyses, it was observed that OsNAR2.1 was expressed mainly in the root epidermal cells, differently from the five OsNRT2 genes. OsNAR2.1, OsNRT2.1, OsNRT2.2, and OsNRT2.3a were up-regulated by nitrate and suppressed by NH(4)(+) and high root temperature (37 °C). Expression of all these genes was increased by light or external sugar supply. Root transcripts of OsNRT2.3b and OsNRT2.4 were much less abundant and not affected by temperature. Expression of OsNRT2.3b was insensitive to the form of N supply. Expression of OsNRT2.4 responded to changes in auxin supply unlike all the other NRT2 genes. A region from position -311 to -1, relative to the translation start site in the promoter region of OsNAR2.1, was found to contain the cis-element(s) necessary for the nitrate-, but not light- and sugar-dependent activation. However, it was difficult to define a conserved cis-element in the promoters of the nitrate-regulated OsNRT2/OsNAR2 genes. The results imply distinct physiological functions for each OsNRT2 transporter, and differential regulation pathways by N and C status.

Fig. 3. Growth, yield, and NUE of OsNRT2.3b, OsNRT2.3a, and H167R mutation overexpressing lines. (A) Phenotypes and transcriptional and translational expression of OsNRT2.3b-and OsNRT2.3a-overexpressing lines and Nipponbare WT. (B) Phenotypes and transcriptional and translational expression of WT and OsNRT2.3b-H167R mutant-overexpressing lines. (C) Average grain yield and NUE of OsNRT2.3b-(O), OsNRT2.3a-(a-O), and H167R-(H167R) overexpressing lines and WT in field plots. RT-PCR with the specific primers (SI Appendix, Table S10) and Western blot analyses with monoclonal antibodies were performed to identify protein expression levels. NUE = grain yield/applied N fertilizer. Values are mean ± SE (n = 3). a and b above bars indicate significant differences (P < 0.05) between the transgenic lines and WT estimated by one-way ANOVA.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NJN-6 produces volatile compounds (VOCs) that inhibit the growth and spore germination of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. Among the total of 36 volatile compounds detected, 11 compounds completely inhibited fungal growth. The antifungal activity of these compounds suggested that VOCs can play important roles over short and long distances in the suppression of Fusarium oxysporum. Microbial antagonist strains capable of producing both nonvolatile compounds and volatile compounds (VOCs), which exhibit strong inhibitory activity against plant pathogens, have received much attention (4, 14). These antagonists include bacteria, such as Pseudomonas spp. (5), and nonpathogenic fungi like Trichoderma spp. (11). The release of VOCs by soil microbes has been reported to promote plant growth (13), display nematicidal activity (7), and induce systemic resistance in crops (3). Previous researchers also found that VOCs produced by bacteria could inhibit the growth (6) and the spore germination of pathogenic fungi (10), suggesting that VOCs produced by bacteria could be a mechanism of biocontrol against some soilborne fungal diseases.Fusarium oxysporum is a well-known soilborne fungus, and some strains of F. oxysporum are pathogenic to plants and are difficult to control; however, biological methods may be a reliable alternative to chemical methods for controlling soilborne fungal growth. For applications in agriculture, the Bacillus species are considered important biological control agents. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (NJN-6), isolated from the rhizosphere soil of healthy banana plants, acts as an efficient antagonist against F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense by producing several antibiotics (15,16). In this study, we characterized the volatile organic compounds produced by strain NJN-6. We used solid-phase microextraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to extract and identify the VOCs. Finally, we identified antagonistic VOCs as those that reduced the growth and inhibited the spore germination of F. oxysporum.Microorganisms and culture conditions. The antagonistic strain NJN-6 was identified as B. amyloliquefaciens (CGMCC [China General Microbiology Culture Collection Center] accession no. 3183) by 16S rRNA sequencing (15). The fungal strain F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense, which exhibited high virulence in banana plants, was used as the target fungus.Antagonistic assay of VOCs against fungi. One compartment of the divided plates containing modified MS medium (with 1.5% [wt/vol] agar, 1.5% [wt/vol] sucrose, and 0.4% [wt/vol] TSA [3]) was inoculated with NJN-6, except for control plates. Another compartment containing PDA medium was used for F. oxysporum to test growth inhibition, or 100 l of spore solution (10 8 CFU/ ml) was spread evenly to test the ability of the VOCs to inhibit the spore germination of fungi, or 10 g of diseased banana field soil from Ledong, Hainan Province, was added to one compartment. The plates were incubated at 28°C for 3 days, and then the diame...

Although silicon (Si) is not recognized as an essential element for general higher plants, it has beneficial effects on the growth and production of a wide range of plant species. Si is known to effectively mitigate various environmental stresses and enhance plant resistance against both fungal and bacterial pathogens. In this review, the effects of Si on plant–pathogen interactions are analyzed, mainly on physical, biochemical, and molecular aspects. In most cases, the Si-induced biochemical/molecular resistance during plant–pathogen interactions were dominated as joint resistance, involving activating defense-related enzymes activates, stimulating antimicrobial compound production, regulating the complex network of signal pathways, and activating of the expression of defense-related genes. The most previous studies described an independent process, however, the whole plant resistances were rarely considered, especially the interaction of different process in higher plants. Si can act as a modulator influencing plant defense responses and interacting with key components of plant stress signaling systems leading to induced resistance. Priming of plant defense responses, alterations in phytohormone homeostasis, and networking by defense signaling components are all potential mechanisms involved in Si-triggered resistance responses. This review summarizes the roles of Si in plant–microbe interactions, evaluates the potential for improving plant resistance by modifying Si fertilizer inputs, and highlights future research concerning the role of Si in agriculture.

To identify the effect of nitrogen (N) nutrition on photosynthetic efficiency and mesophyll conductance of rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L., cv. 'Shanyou 63' hybrid indica China), hydroponic experiments with different concentrations of N were conducted in a greenhouse. Although leaf N concentration on a dry mass basis increased with increasing supply of N, no significant differences in seedling biomass were observed. A higher light-saturated CO(2) assimilation rate (A) with a high concentration of supplied N was associated with a higher carboxylation efficiency (CE), but not a higher apparent quantum yield (alpha). Based on classic photosynthetic models, both the Rubisco content and the ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) regeneration rate were sufficient for light-saturated photosynthesis in rice seedlings; the estimated chloroplastic CO(2) concentration (C(c)) and mesophyll conductance (g(m)) demonstrated that a low C(c) was the ultimate limiting factor to photosynthetic efficiency with a higher N supply. Due to a greater chloroplast size (i.e. a shorter distance to the plasma membrane) with a higher supply of N, the CO(2) transport resistance in the liquid phase (g(liq)) in high-N leaves was lower than that in low-N leaves, which resulted in higher g(m) and C(c) in high-N leaves. Although CE(A/Ci) was higher with a high supply of N, there were no differences in CE(A/Cc) between plants grown with different concentrations of N, indicating that the carboxylation capacity of Rubisco between plants grown at different N concentrations was constant. The enhanced photosynthetic rate with supply of a high N concentration was attributed to a higher CO(2) concentration in the chloroplasts, related to a higher mesophyll conductance due to an increased chloroplast size.