Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 8.6 (continued)
to photosynthate accumulation in the leaf accompanied by chlorosis and necrosis
(von Schaewen et al.
1990
). As shown in Figs.
8.5
and
8.6
, established nutrient
starvation overlaps with developmental senescence, hence the term NuDIS.
The plant response to nutrient stress is not only complex with respect to specific
versus common responses, to the plant species and to specific nutrients but is
additionally a dynamic process. Likewise, the ability of plants to positively respond
to nutrient re-supply by fertilisation or if the plant manages to access nutrients is
strictly dependent on the developmental status of the plant (Z¨rb et al.
2012
;
Steinfurth et al.
2012
). Knowledge of the processes during alleviation of starvation
responses is incomplete at the molecular level. To understand these processes and
their molecular and regulatory bases it will be necessary to compare the responses
of plant (model systems and crops) at various stages and severities of starvation or
replenishment and also with combinations of mineral nutrient depletions, as exem-
plified in the chapter of Forieri et al. of this topic. Furthermore, it will be helpful to
correlate existing knowledge with improved profiling and phenotyping tools and to
employ systems biology approaches such as transcriptomics, proteomics and
metabolomics. It will also be necessary to devise novel bioinformatics and
