Phosphate transport in Arabidopsis: Pht1;1 and Pht1;4 play a major role in phosphate acquisition from both low‐ and high‐phosphate environments

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Abstract
Summary: Of the mineral nutrients essential for plant growth, phosphorus plays the widest diversity of roles and a lack of phosphorus has profound effects on cellular metabolism. At least eight members of the Arabidopsis Pht1 phosphate (Pi) transporter family are expressed in roots and Pht1;1 and Pht1;4 show the highest transcript levels. The spatial and temporal expression patterns of these two genes show extensive overlap. To elucidate the in planta roles of Pht1;1 and Pht1;4, we identified loss‐of‐function mutants and also created a double mutant, lacking both Pht1;1 and Pht1;4. Consistent with their spatial expression patterns, membrane location and designation as high‐affinity Pi transporters, Pht1;1 and Pht1;4 contribute to Pi transport in roots during growth under low‐Pi conditions. In addition, during growth under high‐Pi conditions, the double mutant shows a 75% reduction in Pi uptake capacity relative to wildtype. Thus, Pht1;1 and Pht1;4 play significant roles in Pi acquisition from both low‐ and high‐Pi environments.