Control of phosphate homeostasis through gene regulation in crops

Phosphorus (P) is an essential yet frequently deficient element in plants. Maintenance of phosphate (Pi) homeostasis is crucial for crop production. In comparison with the model plant Arabidopsis, crops face wider ranges and larger fluctuations in P supply from the soil environment, and thus develop more complicated strategies to improve Pi acquisition and utilization efficiency. Undergirding these strategies, there are numerous genes involved in alternative metabolism pathways that are regulated by complex Pi signaling networks. In this review, we intend to summarize the recent advances in crops on control of Pi homeostasis through gene regulation from Pi acquisition and mobilization within plants, as well as activation of rhizosphere P and P uptake through symbiotic associations.