Publications by authors named "Sofia Pontigo"

Aluminum (Al) toxicity and phosphorus (P) deficiency are widely recognized as major constraints to agricultural productivity in acidic soils. Under this scenario, the development of ryegrass plants with enhanced P use efficiency and Al resistance is a promising approach by which to maintain pasture production. In this study, we assessed the contribution of growth traits, P efficiency, organic acid anion (OA) exudation, and the expression of Al-responsive genes in improving tolerance to concurrent low-P and Al stress in ryegrass ( L.

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Improving plant ability to acquire and efficiently utilize phosphorus (P) is a promising approach for developing sustainable pasture production. This study aimed to identify ryegrass cultivars with contrasting P use efficiency, and to assess their associated biochemical and molecular responses. Nine ryegrass cultivars were hydroponically grown under optimal (0.

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The silicon (Si) uptake system of two ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars was characterised by assessing the concentration- and time-dependent kinetics. Additionally, a Si transporter gene was isolated from ryegrass and their expression pattern was analysed.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines two phosphate transporters, LpPHT1;1 and LpPHT1;4, in ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and their different roles in how the plant takes up and distributes phosphate under phosphorus (P) stress conditions.
  • LpPHT1;4 is significantly influenced by P availability and shows increased expression under P-starvation, while LpPHT1;1 does not show a similar response.
  • Yeast assays suggest that LpPHT1;4 is a high-affinity transporter that helps the plant under low phosphate conditions, whereas LpPHT1;1 appears to function as a low-affinity transporter, highlighting their distinct functions which may help enhance
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Silicon (Si) has been well documented to alleviate aluminum (Al) toxicity in vascular plants. However, the mechanisms underlying these responses remain poorly understood. Here, we assessed the effect of Si on the modulation of Si/Al uptake and the antioxidant performance of ryegrass plants hydroponically cultivated with Al (0 and 0.

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So far, considerable advances have been achieved in understanding the mechanisms of Si uptake and transport in vascular plants. This review presents a comprehensive update about this issue, but also provides the new insights into the role of Si against mineral stresses that occur in acid soils. Such information could be helpful to understand both the differential Si uptake ability as well as the benefits of this mineral element on plants grown under acidic conditions.

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