Author
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BUSH, DANIEL |
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Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/1998 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Nitrogen is an essential nutrient in plant growth and the most significant variable, after water, in determining crop yield and nutritional value. Inorganic nitrogen is assimilated into amino acids in mature leaves or roots, and then transported to harvested tissues, such as grain, fruits, and storage organs, to support growth. Imported amino acids serve not only as the building blocks of proteins, they are also the precursors of every nitrogen containing molecule in the cell, including; nucleic acids, growth regulators, photosynthetic pigments, and a wide array of other essential compounds. In many respects, amino acids are the foundation of nitrogen metabolism in the plant and understanding their transport within cells and between organs is a fundamental challenge in agriculture. In this chapter, I summarize the current state of understanding regarding amino acid transport in plants and discuss biotechnological strategies for enhancing the nutritional value of harvested tissues. |
