Phosphorus starvation response dynamics and management in plants for sustainable agriculture

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient required for the survival and reproduction of all living organisms. Its inorganic form (Pi) is taken up by the roots to support plant growth and development, and its availability directly determines agricultural productivity. The primary source of P replenishment in agriculture is chemical phosphate (Pi) fertilizers. While application of Pi-fertilizers to croplands ensures high yield agriculture, its intensive use leads to several environmental implications, including loss of soil fertility and pollution of water bodies with runoff fertilizer. Global non-renewable P-reserves are finite and would last for only a few hundred years. Therefore, a holistic approach is needed to combine Pi-use efficient germplasm with the targeted fertilization, agronomically superior fertilizer formulations for better P-management. The latest technologies to reclaim Pi from alternative sources need to be explored. In the present review, we first outline the challenges and environmental consequences of Pi-intensive fertilization, followed by plants' response and adaptive strategies to Pi starvation. Next, we discuss the role of microbes and Pi-nanofertilizer to plant Pi nutrition. Finally, a few cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions available for reclaiming Pi from waste are argued.