Summary
This narrative review, published in Plant and Soil, provides a comprehensive overview of zinc nutrition in plants, covering the biochemical roles of zinc, mechanisms of soil zinc availability, and plant uptake pathways. It is likely to address both agronomic interventions (such as zinc fertilisation) and plant-based approaches (including biofortification) to address widespread zinc deficiency in agricultural soils. The paper situates plant zinc nutrition within the broader context of global zinc deficiency in human populations, making it relevant to both crop science and nutritional quality research.
UK applicability
Zinc deficiency is recognised in certain UK soils, particularly sandy and chalk-derived soils, making the agronomic management strategies discussed in this review applicable to UK arable production. The findings on biofortification and fertilisation approaches are pertinent to UK crop quality and food systems policy, including efforts to improve dietary zinc intake.
Key measures
Soil zinc availability; plant zinc concentration (mg/kg); zinc deficiency symptoms; zinc use efficiency; grain zinc content
Outcomes reported
The paper reviews the mechanisms of zinc uptake, transport, and utilisation in plants, alongside the causes and consequences of zinc deficiency in soils and crops. It likely examines agronomic and genetic strategies for improving zinc nutrition in crops, with reference to implications for food quality and human nutrition.
Topic tags
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