Mineral nutrition of C4 plants

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The evolution of C4 photosynthesis led to an increase in carbon assimilation rates and plant growth compared to C3 photosynthetic plants. This enhanced plant growth affects the requirement for soil-derived mineral nutrients. However, mineral plant nutrition has scarcely been considered in connection with C4 photosynthesis. By analysing species of the genus Flaveria with different photosynthesis types, we have shown differences in accumulation of sulfur compounds and allocation of phosphate between C3 and C4 species. It seems that root-shoot communication is important to adjust the uptake and allocation of sulfate and phosphate to different needs of C3 and C4 plants. We have generated interspecies grafts between F. robusta (C3) and F. bidentis (C4) which revealed that the difference in sulfur assimilation is mainly controlled by the root. These interspecies grafts represent an excellent experimental system to address the mechanisms of such communication in S and P nutrition. However, also the question if the different regulation of nutrient homeostasis is conserved in other species with C3 and C4 photosynthesis is of utmost importance. In this project we aim to dissect the differences in phosphate homeostasis in Flaveria and more general differences in mineral nutrition between C3 and C4 species. This work will assess to what extent mineral nutrition is differently controlled in C3 and C4 plants and how far it is important for optimal performance of the C4 photosynthetic mechanism. In particular we want to: 1. Find the mechanisms of differential phosphate accumulation in C3 and C4 Flaveria species2. Determine which nutrients show differences in accumulation with increasing degree of C4 photosynthesis in Flaveria3. Test whether differences in nutrient homeostasis are conserved in other genera with C3 and C4 species