PHR1 Balances between Nutrition and Immunity in Plants.

Plants assemble beneficial root-associated microbiomes to support growth, especially in nutrient-poor conditions. To do so, however, plants have to suppress their immune system. Reporting in Nature, Castrillo et al. (2017) identified PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE1 (PHR1) as a central regulator in this balance between nutrient stress response and immune regulation.