Phosphorus–Zinc Interactions

The higher phosphorus content in zinc-deficient plants supplied with high phosphorus can to some degree be attributed to a concentration effect (52). However, the main reason for the high concentration in the leaves is that zinc deficiency enhances the uptake rate of phosphorus by the roots and translocation to the shoots (53). This enhancement effect is specific for zinc deficiency and is not observed when other micronutrients are deficient. Enhanced phosphorus uptake in zinc-deficient plants can be part of an expression of higher passive permeability of the plasma membranes of root cells or impaired control of xylem loading. Zinc-deficient plants also have a high phosphorus content because the retranslocation of phosphorus is impaired.