Life on the chalk: mechanisms of plant sensing and adaptation to high-pH soils.

Plants sense high external pH via rapid alkalinization factor-FERONIA and 1-PSY1R signaling that modulates plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity, linking soil chemistry to stress responses.

• Why it matters: High pH in calcareous soils limits iron, phosphorus, zinc, and manganese availability, leading to nutrient deficiency, chlorosis, and yield loss.
• What they did: This review synthesizes recent findings on plant pH sensing mechanisms, including membrane potential changes and peptide/hormone pathways such as auxin, plus regulators like PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE 1 and bZIP19/23.
• The result: The compiled evidence clarifies how pH sensing and hormonal and nutrient-regulatory networks coordinate adaptation, informing strategies like microbial partnerships and soil management to mitigate high-pH stress.

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