The potassium channel GhAKT2bD is regulated by CBL-CIPK calcium signalling complexes and facilitates K allocation in cotton.

Efficient allocation of the essential nutrient potassium (K ) is a central determinant of plant ion homeostasis and involves AKT2 K channels. Here, we characterize four AKT2 K channels from cotton and report that xylem and phloem expressed GhAKT2bD facilitates K allocation and that AKT2-silencing impairs plant growth and development. We uncover kinase activity-dependent activation of GhAKT2bD-mediated K uptake by AtCBL4-GhCIPK1 calcium signalling complexes in HEK293T cells.

A potassium-sensing niche in Arabidopsis roots orchestrates signaling and adaptation responses to maintain nutrient homeostasis.

Organismal homeostasis of the essential ion K requires sensing of its availability, efficient uptake, and defined distribution. Understanding plant K nutrition is essential to advance sustainable agriculture, but the mechanisms underlying K sensing and the orchestration of downstream responses have remained largely elusive. Here, we report where plants sense K deprivation and how this translates into spatially defined ROS signals to govern specific downstream responses.