NYU Researchers Discover Mechanism to Enhance Crop Fertilizer Efficiency
Researchers at New York University have identified molecular players that enable plants to 'feel full' after absorbing sufficient nitrogen. This discovery could lead to the development of crops that utilize nitrogen more efficiently, potentially reducing the need for fertilizers. The study, led by Gloria Coruzzi and published in The Plant Cell, highlights a regulatory factor that controls nitrogen uptake and assimilation in plants. The research focuses on the protein HHO5, which signals plants to stop absorbing inorganic nitrogen when organic nitrogen levels are adequate. This mechanism could help address environmental and economic issues associated with fertilizer use, as plants currently absorb only about 50% of applied fertilizers, with the rest contributing to environmental pollution. 
