Phosphorus is one of the most important nutrients for the growth and development of plants. A limitation of phosphorus in the soil severely affects plant performance. The main source of P fertilizer is rock phosphate, which is a finite and non-renewable resource.

Plants/crops develop different mechanisms to utilize phosphate and extract it from the soil. Most of the phosphorus uptake and the phosphorus stored in the vegetative parts of the plants are ultimately transferred and stored as phytate in seeds and grains during reproductive stages. This phytate is not bioavailable to humans and, as humans are non-ruminants, this leads to water eutrophication.

That being so, it is necessary to better understand the mechanisms for tolerance to phosphorus limitation and to develop strategies for avoiding excessive storage of phytate in seeds and grains. In this Research Topic, we aim to collect high-quality manuscripts which discuss the molecular mechanisms and signaling of phosphorus starvation in plants, the uptake and utilization of phosphorus in plants, and the storage of phosphorus in plants. This Research Topic also looks to increase our knowledge of the roles of different genes/QTL and small RNAs identified in plants for phosphorus starvation.

We invite authors to submit papers on themes that include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Molecular mechanisms of phosphorus signaling and uptake in plants;
• Genome-wide association mapping of phosphorus tolerance gene/QTL;
• Role of phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) in plants;
• Storage of phosphorus in seeds as phytate and eutrophication;
• Identification and characterization of phosphorus tolerant genes;
• Role of miRNAs in phosphorus starvation in plants;
• Role of endophytes in phosphorus starvation in plants;
• CRISPR/Cas mediated genome editing for phosphorus tolerance in plants.

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Frontiers in Plant Science

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