Nitrate transporters and mechanisms of nitrate signal transduction in Arabidopsis and rice

Abstract Nitrate (NO 3 − ) is a significant inorganic nitrogen source in soil, playing a crucial role in influencing crop productivity. As sessile organisms, plants have evolved complex mechanisms for nitrate uptake and response to varying soil levels. Recent advancements have enhanced our understanding of nitrate uptake and signaling pathways. This mini‐review offers a comparative analysis of nitrate uptake mechanisms in Arabidopsis and rice. It also examines nitrate signal transduction, highlighting the roles of AtNRT1.1 and AtNLP7 as nitrate receptors and elucidating the OsNRT1.1B‐OsSPX4‐OsNLP3 cascade. Additionally, it investigates nuclear transcriptional networks that regulate nitrate‐responsive genes, controlled by various transcription factors (TFs) crucial for plant development. By integrating these findings, we highlight mechanisms that may help to enhance crop nitrogen utilization.