POTASSIUM NUTRITION IN THE OIL PALM: A MOLECULAR PERSPECTIVE

Potassium is a major nutrient essential for plant growth and development. Acquisition of this vital element and maintenance of Ki" homeostasis are complex processes, facilitated by an array of membrane transporters including carriers and channels. Key mediators of K+ uptake are the K+ Transporters (KT) 1K+ Uptake Petmease (KUP)IHigh. Affinity K-H (MAK) family of transporters. The oil palm (Elaeis guincensis), is an agriculturally and economically important crop, hut the molecular mechanisms of nutrient acquisition in this plant are poorly understood. Here we report the first molecular characterisation of potassium transporters from KTIKUP/HAK superfamily in the oil palm, named EgKUP3, 1EgKUP8 and EgKUPTE