Iron sensing modules participate in rhizospheric pH perception in rice

Rhizospheric pH has emerged as one of the most important environmental factors regulating plant fitness in almost every aspect of plant physiology and development. Interestingly, the information on how plant perceive rhizospheric pH is still not well understood. In this report we have elucidated the intricate mechanism where rhizospheric pH mediated changes in relative Fe availability are sensed by the plants to initiate complex physiological responses. Using root specific RNA-seq, ICPMS, hormone quantification and physiological validation in rice, the study revealed Fe availability to be a critical determinant of rhizospheric pH where the relative Fe toxicity towards acidic pH and Fe deficiency towards alkaline pH is deduced by the plant in the form of JA-auxin crosstalk regulating the physiological responses against rhizospheric pH.