Root epidermis-specific expression of a phosphate transporter TaPT2 enhances the growth of transgenic Arabidopsis under Pi-replete and Pi-depleted conditions

Although attempts to improve the phosphate (Pi) uptake and use efficiency by constitutively overexpressing phosphate transporters have resulted in enhanced Pi or total phosphorous contents, growth promotion by Pi acquisition was observed in only a few cases. This study examined the effect of the tissue-specific overexpression of phosphate transporter on Pi acquisition and plant growth. We cloned cDNA for a wheat phosphate transporter, TaPT2, using PCR and confirmed its Pi transport activity in Arabidopsis suspension cells. The overexpression of TaPT2 by the Arabidopsis Shaker family inward rectifying potassium channel 1 (AKT1) promoter, dominantly expressed in root epidermal cells, resulted in increased root and shoot growth of transgenic Arabidopsis under Pi-replete and Pi-depleted conditions. However, their Pi and total P contents did not increase. The overexpression of TaPT2 by the constitutive promoter, actin8 (ACT8), increased shoot total P contents in transgenic plants, but did not promote their growth. These results suggested that enhanced Pi uptake in root epidermal cells is suitable as a driving force for Pi transport from roots to shoots, improving subsequent Pi use in shoots. Thus, the root epidermal cell-specific expression of TaPT2 may be a simple and promising strategy for enhancing plant Pi uptake and efficiency.