Melino, V.J.Tester, M.A.Okamoto, M.2022-05-032022-05-032022Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 2022; 73:263-2690958-16691879-0429https://hdl.handle.net/2440/134930Global use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers has increased sevenfold from 1960 to 1995 but much of the N applied is lost to the environment. Modifying the temporal and spatial distribution of organic N within the plant can lead to improved grain yield and/or grain protein content for the same or reduced N fertilizer inputs. Biotechnological approaches to modify whole plant distribution of amino acids and ureides has proven successful in several crop species. Manipulating selective autophagy pathways in crops has also improved N remobilization efficiency to sink tissues whilst the contribution of ribophagy, RNA and purine catabolism to N recycling in crops is still too early to foretell. Improved recycling and remobilization of N must exploit N-stress responsive transcriptional regulators, N-sensing or phloem-localized promotors and genetic variation for N-responsive traits.en© 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd.nitrogen fertilizersCrops, AgriculturalEdible GrainFertilizersNitrogenJournal article10.1016/j.copbio.2021.09.0032022-05-03588792Okamoto, M. [0000-0002-2989-607X]