Prof. Yoshikatsu Matsubayashi, Dr. Ryo Tabata, Ms. Kumiko Sumida, and Assistant Prof. Hidefumi Shinohara at the Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, have discovered a novel plant peptide hormone "CEP." The peptide hormone is produced by plant roots in response to a nitrogen (N)-starved condition on one side of plant root and results in increased nitrate uptake on the other side of the root. This action suggests that plants can skillfully adapt to fluctuating N-levels in their environment. Applications to N-starvation and crop production are also expected.
This research was published in Science on October 17, 2014.
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