While increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere encourage plant growth, they also reduce the nutritional value of plants, which can have a larger impact on nutrition and food safety worldwide. Researchers at Michigan State University discovered a new way plants are adapting to the changing climate — information that can be used to help plants grow strong while also maintaining their nutritional value.
Phosphorus is used as a fertilizer and is essential for plant growth, but the worldwide reserve of phosphorus is limited.
“We can’t synthesize [phosphorus] like we can nitrogen fertilizer,” said Hatem Rouached, an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “We need to develop a better understanding of how plants regulate phosphorus to survive.”
Read more at: Michigan State University
Farmland (Photo Credit: Dan Meyers)