title: The nitrogen-potassium intersection: membranes, metabolism, and mechanism.
abstract: Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) are the two most abundantly acquired mineral elements by plants, and their acquisition pathways interact in complex ways. Here, we review pivotal interactions with respect to root acquisition, storage, translocation and metabolism, between the K+ion and the two major N sources, ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-). The intersections between N and K physiology are explored at a number of organizational levels, from molecular-genetic processes, to compartmentation, to whole plant physiology, and discussed in the context of both N-K cooperation and antagonism. Nutritional regulation and optimization of plant growth, yield, metabolism and water-use efficiency are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences and the Canadian Centre for World Hunger Research (CCWHR), University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M1C 1A4.
authors.forename: Devrim
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences and the Canadian Centre for World Hunger Research (CCWHR), University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M1C 1A4.
authors.forename: Dev T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Britto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences and the Canadian Centre for World Hunger Research (CCWHR), University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M1C 1A4.
authors.forename: Herbert J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kronzucker
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen; D011188:Potassium
keywords: ammonium; assimilation; efflux; influx; nitrate; nitrogen-potassium interactions; plant productivity; translocation