Potassium: A key modulator for cell homeostasis

Abstract

Potassium (K) is the most vital and abundant macro element for the overall growth of plants and its deficiency or, excess concentration results in many diseases in plants. It is involved in regulation of many crucial roles in plant development. Depending on soil-root interactions, complex soil dynamics often results in unpredictable availability of the elements. Based on the importance index, K is considered to be the second only to nitrogen for the overall growth of plants. More than 60 enzymes within the plant system depend on K for its activation, in which K act as a key regulator. K helps plants to resist several abiotic and biotic stresses in the environment. We have reviewed the research progress about K's role in plants covering various important considerations of K highlighting the effects of microbes on soil K⁺; K and its contribution to adsorbed dose in plants; the importance of K⁺ deficiency; physiological functions of K⁺ transporters and channels; and interference of abiotic stressor in the regulatory role of K. This review further highlights the scope of future research regarding K.

Keywords: 2-Aminoethyl vinyl-glycine (ethylene inhibitor); Biotite; Ethephon (ethylene stimulator); Feldspars, silicon; Growth regulators; Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA); Jasmonic acid; Microbes; Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA); Potash, Muscovite; Potassium; Potassium chloride (KCl); Potassium ion channel; Potassium oxide (K(2)O); Transporters.