Keeping time with nutrients: integrating circadian rhythms and mineral nutrition in plants.

Abstract

Plants grow in environments structured by predictable daily cycles of light, temperature and nutrient supply. To anticipate these fluctuations, they rely on the circadian clock, an endogenous timekeeping system that coordinates metabolic and physiological processes in time. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the role of the circadian system in mineral nutrition in plants. Core clock components rhythmically regulate the expression of nutrient transporters and homeostatic pathways. In turn, nutrient status feeds back on circadian timing, revealing tight bidirectional coupling between the clock and nutrient signalling networks. Beyond mineral homeostasis, circadian regulation extends to root system architecture, coordinating developmental rhythms that determine how plants explore and exploit the soil environment to take up mineral elements. Although many clock-nutrient interactions are supported by transcriptomic evidence, functional validation at the level of nutrient fluxes and whole-plant performance remains limited. The emerging framework of chronoculture further emphasizes that aligning crop fertilization regimes with plant biological timing may enhance soil resource use. Integrating circadian biology into crop management thus offers a promising avenue to optimize crop productivity in variable environments.