Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency: From Lab to the Field

Dear Colleagues,

Plant-based agricultural production has been a key contributor to global food security. Macro- and micronutrients are essential to support optimal plant growth and development used for yield formation. However, the cost, effectiveness, and negative consequences of fertilizer applications demand a better understanding of nutrient use efficiency (NEU). Decades of fundamental research using model organisms such as Arabidopsis and rice have led to exciting breakthroughs, which make the translation of the research findings into NEU improvement in field crops possible. In this Special Issue, we aim to bridge the gap between laboratory findings and field improvement by highlighting the progress in mechanistic studies of nutrient sensing/response and utilization and discussing the tools to maximize crop NEU. We invite submissions from broad topics, including but not limited to 1) nutrient sensing, transport, storage, and assimilation; 2) molecular mechanisms underlying the cultural practices for yield improvement or regulating the balance between plant growth and crop yield; and 3) potentials and challenges of using biotechnological means to improve NEU and crop productivity.

Dr. Zhi-Liang Zheng
Dr. Thomas Leustek
Guest Editors

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