CIBIO-INBIO researchers discover the first sensor for micronutrients in plants
A study published in the prestigious journal Nature Plants reveals the discovery of a mechanism to control plant zinc status.
Micronutrient deficiencies are a growing problem affecting developing countries but also EU society. The risk of zinc (Zn) deficiency alone can lead to different degrees of growth retardation, immune dysfunction, and cognitive impairment. It is therefore important to consider the nutritional value of micronutrients in plant-based foods along with undertaking sustainable farming practices.
A new study carried out by an international team, led by Ana Assunção (CIBIO-InBIO and University of Copenhagen) and including CIBIO-InBIO researchers, finds the first molecular Zn sensor identified in plants, and the first known plant micronutrient sensor that functions upstream of a transcriptional regulatory network. This finding may help the development of crops that are better adapted to Zn-deficient soils and that produce seeds with improved zinc nutritional value.