The role of ammonium transport proteins in improving nitrogen use efficiency in crop production

Publication date: 14/03/2024
Extent: 34 pages

Contributions by: Muhammad K. Uddin, Francine Perrine-Walker and Brent N. Kaiser, University of Sydney, Australia

Chapter synopsis:

Nitrogen (N) is a key macronutrient required for plant growth and reproduction. Ammonium (NH4+) is a readily available nitrogen source for plant growth and an important contributor to net plant nitrogen uptake and utilisation. It is suggested that members of the high-affinity ammonium transporter family (AMT) and the low-affinity ammonium major facilitator (AMF, non-AMT type) NH4+ transporters operate respectively as high-affinity (HATS) and low-affinity (LATS) transport pathways, both contributing to the management of overall plant NH4+ transport, uptake and cellular redistribution. In this chapter, we will examine NH4+ transport systems operating across different plant cell types and tissues in both a N2-fixing legume root nodule and in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2024.0135.05