Expression of functional markers for P- deficient tolerance in Rice

Phosphate is one of the key components in energy metabolism and biosynthesis of nucleic acids and membranes. It plays an essential role in photosynthesis and is involved in sugar and starch formation. But, it is one of the least available of all essential nutrients in the soil and its concentration is generally below that of many other micronutrients. A high content of free ferric oxides and high Aluminum (Al) limit the P availability to plants even when present in the soil and has become a widespread problem in vast rice growing area of India. Rice also developed several adoptive mechanisms like association of mycorhiza, exudation of organic acid by root and above all high affinity phosphate (P) transporter which start operation when available P is low. So development of P-deficiency tolerant rice genotype with high affinity phosphate tolerance superior alleles can be one of the breeding objectives.