Nitrate uptake and its regulation in relation to improving nitrogen use efficiency in cereals

On average less than half of the applied N is captured by crops, thus there is scope and need to improve N uptake in cereals. With nitrate (NO3−) being the main form of N available to cereal crops there has been a significant global research effort to understand plant NO3− uptake. Despite this, our knowledge of the NO3− uptake system is not sufficient to easily target ways to improve NO3− uptake. Based on this there is an identified need to better understand the NO3− uptake system and the signalling molecules that modulate it. With strong transcriptional control governing the NO3− uptake system, we also need new leads for modulating transcription of NO3− transporter genes.