Mineral Nutrition Test - 4

The requirement of micronutrients is always in low amounts while their moderate decrease causes the deficiency symptoms and a moderate increase causes toxicity.

Excess of manganese may, in fact, induce deficiencies of iron, magnesium and calcium. Thus, what appears as symptoms of manganese toxicity may actually be the deficiency symptoms of iron, magnesium and calcium.

Copper is absorbed as cupric ions (Cu²⁺).

It activates some enzymes in plants which are involved in lignin synthesis and it is essential in several enzyme systems. It is also required in the process of photosynthesis, is essential in plant respiration and assists in plant metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins.

Calcium activates certain enzymes and plays an important role in regulating metabolic activities.

Deficiency symptoms are morphological changes in plants, indicating nutrient deficiency. Deficiency symptoms vary from one element to another.

Nitrogen deficiency symptoms include poor plant growth, and leaves that are pale green or yellow.

Symptoms of potassium deficiency in plants include brown scorching and curling of leaf tips as well as chlorosis (yellowing) between leaf veins.

The main symptom of magnesium deficiency, chlorosis, or yellowing between leaf veins.

Most of the micronutrients are obtained from soil. Micronutrient which is present in all organic compounds is carbon that is not obtained from soil.

Those minerals that are involve in the synthesis of cell wall and storage material are called framework element. Calcium, Magnesium, Carbon includes framework elements.

The minerals elements like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are required by plants in larger quantity. These elements becomes deficient in agricultural soil.

Plants with Zinc deficiency show reduced biosynthesis of Auxin. Auxin play most important role in growth and elongation of plants by cell division and cell differentiation.