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HEIndividual fellowship2023–2025

P-use efficient rice · Inositol pyrophosphates in phosphate homeostasis: increasing nutrition value in rice

Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2023-11-10 → 2025-11-09
EU contribution
€189,687
Participants
1
Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Inositol pyrophosphates in phosphate homeostasis: increasing nutrition value in rice

Phosphorus (P) is essential for plant growth and development, yet in most soils phosphate (Pi) is poorly available. To compensate, farmers apply excess P fertilizers, causing environmental pollution and depletion of finite phosphate reserves. In rice, a staple for over half the world’s population, low Pi availability limits growth, while seed phytate - an abundant P storage form - reduces micronutrient bioavailability for humans and animals. Enhancing phosphorus-use efficiency (PUE) and reducing seed phytate are therefore critical for sustainable rice production, improved nutrition, and environmental protection. This project focuses on elucidating the roles of inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs) and their associated kinases, ITPK and VIH, in regulating phosphate signaling and homeostasis in rice. PP-InsPs are emerging as central signaling molecules controlling Pi sensing, transport, and allocation. By investigating their biochemical, molecular, and physiological functions, this research aims to uncover how PP-InsPs influence phosphate use efficiency and seed nutritional value without compromising plant immunity or growth. Specific Objectives: The project was structured around four interrelated objectives: 1. Biochemical characterization of rice ITPK and VIH homologs to understand enzymatic properties and regulation. 2. Identification and stereo-isomeric characterization of rice PP-InsPs to map their diversity and functional relevance. 3. Generation of transgenic rice lines with modified ITPK/VIH expression for in planta functional analysis. 4. Molecular, biochemical, and physiological characterization of transgenic lines to assess impacts on Pi homeostasis and seed phytate content. Pathway to Impact: The project bridges fundamental signaling research with applied crop improvement. Expected outcomes include: enhanced phosphorus-use efficiency, improved nutritional quality, and generation of genome-edited resources. Insights gained will support sustainable agriculture, reduced fertilizer reliance, and breeding of nutrient-efficient, climate-resilient rice, addressing global food security and environmental sustainability.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Phosphorus (P) is one of the most important molecules having a role in almost every aspect of plant metabolism. So, a constant supply of P and its efficient use as Pi are necessary to sustain plant growth, development and yield. However, in most of the agricultural lands, Pi is poorly available to plants. In order to overcome the consequences of Pi deficiency, farmers have adopted excessive and routine application of P fertilizers, causing serious impacts on the environment. There are two main concerns regarding the excessive use of P fertilizers. On one hand, erosion by water and wind results in P runoff into open water bodies, causing a major threat to planetary health. On the other hand, P deposits represent a limited resource on our planet. Additionally, some P forms within the plant (such as phytate) are crucial to determine micronutrient availability for the human nutrition and animal feed. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand the functional aspects of Pi sensing, transport, signaling and remobilization, and, thus, it is imperative to develop crops with enhanced PUE (P Use Efficiency) and micronutrient availability to support a more sustainable agriculture system. Although rice counts for the third-most produced cereal crop in the world, it is limited to have only 25% PUE, providing an enormous scope for improvement in P nutrition. In this line, we propose to investigate the synthesis and physiological roles of inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs) in Pi signaling and homeostasis to improve the nutritional value of rice. The proposed research will help to better understand how PP-InsPs control PUE, and will provide the knowledge to reduce phytate content in rice seeds, thereby increasing micronutrient bioavailability without compromising plant immunity, health and yield. In short, the discoveries will help to enhance PUE, preserve P-deposits, mitigate the detrimental consequences of excessive P-fertilization and improve the nutritional value of rice.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • RHEINISCHE FRIEDRICH-WILHELMS-UNIVERSITAT BONN · BonnCoordinatorGermany

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union