UoH researchers identify mechanism to improve phosphate use efficiency in tomato crops

Hyderabad, Oct 6 (UNI) Researchers at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Tuesday said that they have identified a key molecular mechanism that regulates phosphate remobilisation in tomato plants, a finding that could help develop crop varieties capable of using internal phosphate reserves more efficiently and reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers. The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Botany, identified the tomato purple acid phosphatase gene PAP26b as a key regulator of phosphate transfer from older leaves to younger, growing tissues, the University said in a release here. The research was carried out by Abhishek Roychowdhury and colleagues under…