Toluwase Olukayode

1. Introduction Phosphorus (P) is an essential element that is involved in various functionalities in living organisms, including plants. Therefore, it is critical to ensure proper phosphorus nutrition for optimal plant growth and development, by supplying phosphate (Pi) fertilizers to maximize crop productivity in modern agriculture systems [1,2].

High yielding crops are often less resistant to pathogens and vice versa, suggesting that there is an underlying mechanism co-regulating development and disease resistance in plants. Yan et al. identified a transcription factor in cucumber (CsIVP) that regulates vascular development and resistance to downy mildew (caused by the oomycete pathogen Pseudoperonospora cubensis). CsIVP is highly expressed in the vascular tissues and localized in the nucleus.

A phosphate shortage will threaten global food production: phosphate fertilizers are used extensively to produce optimal plant yield. Credit: Shutterstock By 2030, the world's population is projected to be about 8.5 billion people. Global food security is a major concern for governments—zero hunger is the second most important of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.