Potassium (K+) is an essential mineral macronutrient abundantly present in the cytosol which, unlike other macronutrients, is not metabolized and does not integrate into macromolecules. Compared to animal cells, K+ is more abundantly present in plant cells.

Overall performance of the plant, and operation of metabolic machinery depends upon intracellular K+ homeostasis (K+ uptake and efflux) via K+ channels and transporters acting as mediators of cellular responses during plant development. Unlike animals, plants lack sodium/K+ exchangers; plant cells have developed unique transport systems for K+ accumulation and release. In Arabidopsis thaliana, 71 K+ channels and transporters have been identified and categorized into six families.

Plant adaptive responses to several abiotic and biotic stresses are mediated by regulation of intracellular K+ homeostasis. In this report, we highlight the role of K+ in abiotic and biotic stresses, features of channels and transporters responsible for its homeostasis along with its evolutionary relationship, perception and sensing mechanisms, and K+ deficiency triggering different signaling cascades.

Overall, this book covers the role of K+ in plants would be significantly helpful to research, academic community as well as students to understand the one of the major attributes of plant biology.

Addresses an area of major research and development Discusses potassium's role in signaling and regulation of biotic and abiotic stresses Presents recent advances related to nutrient-use-efficiency and potassium deficiency

Autorentext

Dr. Girdhar Kumar Pandey, Assoc. ProfessorDelhi University South CampusDept. of Molecular BiologyBenito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan110021 New DelhiIndia
Swati Mahiwal, M.Sc.Delhi University South CampusDepartment of Plant Molecular BiologyBenito Juarez, Dhaula Kuan110021 New DelhiIndiaSwati271095@gmail.com

Inhalt
Preface.- 1. Introduction: Overview of Role of potassium.- 2. Potassium Homeostasis.- 3. Potassium uptake and transport system in plants.- 4. Sequence, structure and domain analysis of potassium channels and transporters.- 5. Potassium in plant growth and development.- 6. Potassium in abiotic stress.- 7. Potassium deficiency: A stress signal.- 8. Potassium perception and sensing.- 9. Emerging role of potassium in plants.- 10. Key questions and future perspective.- References.- Abbreviations.- Index.