Sensing and Uptake of Nitrogen in Rice Plant: A Molecular View

As a main feature of plant autotrophy, assimilation of inorganic nitrogen (N) is not only of fundamental interest to the crop, but also a crucial factor in crop productivity. N is the main plant mineral nutrient needed for chlorophyll production and other plant cell components (proteins, nucleic acids and amino acids). I highlighted the novel aspects of N responsive sensors, transporters and signaling molecules recently identified in the monocot rice plant, and discussed their potential roles in N sensing and transporting. Furthermore, over the last couple of years, N sensing has been shown to be affected by different external factors, which act as local signals to trigger systemic signaling coordinated by long-distance transport or mobile signals in plant body. Understanding of this complex regulatory network provides a foundation mechanism for the development of novel strategies to increase the acquisition and transportation efficiency of nitrogen under varying N conditions for rice production.