Zhejiang University The research team led by Prof. ZHENG Shao-Jian from the Zhejiang University College of Life Sciencespublished a research article entitled “A Transcription Factor STOP1-Centered Pathway Coordinates Ammonium and Phosphate Acquisition in Arabidopsis” in the journal Molecular Plant on June 30, 2021 (doi: /10.1016/j.molp.2021.06.024). This study uncovers the molecular bases of low phosphorus-induced secretion of organic acids and the mechanisms for the coordination of phosphorous and nitrogen nutrition in plants, thus providing new insights into the utilization of insoluble phosphorus in soil by breeding new nutrient-efficient varieties and developing targeted fertilization techniques. Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for crop growth and development, but the efficacy of phosphorus in soil is often very low. Accordingly, agricultural production requires a substantial quantity of inorganic phosphate (Pi) fertilizers. However, only 20-30% of Pi is taken up by in season crops, and the rest tends to become insoluble or lost. Therefore, improvement of Pi acquisition efficiency from soil by crops is of immense significance to ensure the sustainable development of agriculture.