Plants Siderophore

deoxymugineic acid, phytosiderophore.

although there sufficient iron in soils plant growth, plant iron deficiency problem in calcareous soil, due low solubility of iron(iii) hydroxide. calcareous soil accounts 30% of world s farmland. under such conditions graminaceous plants (grasses, cereals , rice) secrete phytosiderophores soil, typical example being deoxymugineic acid. phytosiderophores have different structure of fungal , bacterial siderophores having 2 α-aminocarboxylate binding centres, single α-hydroxycarboxylate unit. latter bidentate function provides phytosiderophores high selectivity iron(iii). when grown in iron -deficient soil, roots of graminaceous plants secrete siderophores rhizosphere. on scavenging iron(iii) iron –phytosiderophore complex transported across cytoplasmic membrane using proton symport mechanism. iron(iii) complex reduced iron(ii) , iron transferred nicotianamine, although similar phytosiderophores selective iron(ii) , not secreted roots. nicotianamine translocates iron in phloem plant parts.