Cellular Transport and Multifaceted Roles of Jasmonates in Nutrient Deficiency Response in Plants

Jasmonates (JAs) are well documented for their role in plant defense and growth regulation. Cellular transport of JAs during their biosynthesis and signaling constitutes an important layer of their functional regulation. However, most of the information about JAs transport has been gathered in recent years. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of intracellular transport of JAs in plants is of great importance to comprehend their function. In addition, in recent years, JAs have emerged as key regulators of nutrient deficiency response in plants. Under nutrient deficiency, plants show unique adaptive responses, including altered root growth, remodeling of root system architecture (RSA), triggering nutrient uptake-related genes, and activation of nutrient transporters. JAs have been found to regulate these responses in relation to the variable availability of macro- and micronutrients. Evidence indicates that in response to deficiencies of macronutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K+), the JA biosynthesis pathway is modulated, leading to higher JA accumulation. Furthermore, the JA-signaling pathway has been shown to regulate nutrient deficiency-related transcription factors, transporters, and RSA for optimum plant development. In this review, recent developments and updates on molecular mechanisms of cellular transport of JAs during JA biosynthesis and signaling are presented. In addition, new insights on involvement of JAs in nutrient uptake, homeostasis, deficiency response, and plant development have been provided.