NPK-transporters in wheat: linking mineral nutrition with combined abiotic stress adaptation

Mineral nutrients are very crucial for plant survival and adaptation, playing a dynamic role in their growth, development, and production. Among these mineral nutrients, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) stand out as essential macronutrients due to their pivotal and interconnecting roles in supporting plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. Plants developed a transport system to maintain balanced nutrients for sustainable crop productivity and environmental resilience. Although considerable research has focused on the NPK transport system, their integrated roles in coordinating mineral nutrition and stress tolerance remain insufficiently explored in wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 2n = 42, AABBDD). In the current study, we identified 21 N-related, 45 P-related, and 43 K-related transporter genes in T. aestivum, confirmed through the presence of conserved signature domains. These NPK-transporters in T. aestivum and A. thaliana were found as highly conserved within each subgroup, supported by phylogenetic, gene structure, and motif analysis. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis suggests coordinated regulatory networks among nutrient transporters. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that NPK transporters are involved not only in nutrient transport but also in various signaling pathways. The expression profiling in response to biotic and abiotic stresses revealed the differential regulation of NPKs in T. aestivum. Three identified candidates for NPK transporters (TaAMT2, TaPHT4.3, TaKT3) were further subjected to a combined abiotic stress and NPK application assay. The results revealed that the NPK availability modulates T. aestivum adaptation to combined abiotic stresses. Furthermore, the green fluorescent protein GFP revealed that the candidate genes were localized in the plasma membrane. Our study is a foundation to identify co-regulatory candidates for developing wheat varieties that maintain nutrition and yield under the complex stress scenarios of modern agriculture.