Control of phosphate homeostasis through gene regulation in crops

•Gene regulation networks involved in P acquisition and mobilization within plants.•Control of rhizosphere P activation through root exudates.•Transcriptional and posttranslational regulation of Pi transporters.•Pi signaling and gene regulation involved in P mobilization.•Regulation of Pi homeostasis in symbiosis.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential yet frequently deficient element in plants. Maintenance of phosphate (Pi) homeostasis is crucial for crop production. In comparison with the model plant Arabidopsis, crops face wider ranges and larger fluctuations in P supply from the soil environment, and thus develop more complicated strategies to improve Pi acquisition and utilization efficiency. Undergirding these strategies, there are numerous genes involved in alternative metabolism pathways that are regulated by complex Pi signaling networks. In this review, we intend to summarize the recent advances in crops on control of Pi homeostasis through gene regulation from Pi acquisition and mobilization within plants, as well as activation of rhizosphere P and P uptake through symbiotic associations.