MINERAL – NUTRITION
Essential Mineral Elements
NAME | ROLE / FUNCTION | DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS |
NITROGEN (Imp. in growth, metabolism, heredity & reproduction) NO3– form (Nitrate) rarely NO2– or NH4+ | (i) Imp. constituent of proteins (AA), RNA, DNA, (ii) Present in porphyrins of Chlorophylls & Cytochromes, thus active role in photosynthes is & respiration. (ETS). (iii) Part of vitamins, Co-enzymes (NAD, NADP) & alkaloids. (iv) Constituent of plant hormones -IAA, & AT Ps. (v) Absorbed from soil as NO3- , NO2,NH4+ some plants from air by nitrogen fixeres (Rhizobia,Azolla, fungi) | (i) Chlorosis (yellowing) in older leaves (highly mobile). (ii) Anthocyanin formed in stem, petioles & leaf. (tomato etc.) (iii) Plant growth stunted (cell div. & respiration reduced). (iv) Protein synthesis , cell enlargement, chlorophyll synthesis decreases. (v) Late flowering & plant become more suceptible to fungal disease due to excessive nirtrogen. (vi) Seed dormancy increased. |
SULPHUR SO42- (Sulphate) form | (i) Parts of cystinine, cysteine, & methionine amino acids. (ii) Vit. biotene, thiamine, Co-A in respiration. (iii) Disulphide linkage (–S–S–) for protein orientation. (iv) Sulphahydril (–SH–) for active site of enzyme. (v) Role in oil synth, chlorophyll synthesis & part of ferredoxin. (vi) Root nodule formation. | (i) Chlorosis or yellowing in younger leaves, with anthocyanin. (ii) Stem & roots become woody (Hard) because of sclerenchyma development. (iii) Tips & margins of leaves curve inwardly "tea yellow disease". (iv) Cell div. reduced & check fruiting. |
PHOSPHORUS H2 Po4– and HPO24– (Orthophosphate anion form) | (i) Very imp. in RNA, DNA (heredity) Phospholipid (Cell membrane) NADP (Coenzyme) ATP (Energy reactions) (ii) Imp. in Photosynthesis (NADP), protein synth. (DNA,RNA, ATP, AA) (iii) In oxidation-reduction reac -tions, fat metabolism, (iv) In growth of roots, developement of leaf, formation of seeds and crop yield. (iv) Important for endergonic & exergonic reactions, | (i) Premature leaf fall, necrosis, anthocyanin formation. (ii) Protein synthesis decreases. (iii) Growth of roots & shoots is checked, delay in flowering. (iv) Xylem & phloem differentiation reduces. (v) Inhibits seed germination. |
CALCIUM Ca++ form | (i) Imp. for mechanical strength, because Ca is constituent of middle lamella(Ca-pectate in cell wall) (ii) Pe rmea bil ity of biomembrane is maintained by calcium. (iii) Stability of chromosome structure & in spindle formation (Hewitt 1963) (iv) Detoxification (Oxalic Acid → Ca-Oxalate), Na+, K+, (v) Activator of enzymesPhospholipase, arginin kinase, ATPase, amylase. (vi) Required by meristematic and differentiating tissuese | (i) Disintegration of growing apices (root, shoot, leaf apex). (ii) Irregular cell divisions (mitosis) and death of meristem. (iii) Chlorosis on margins of younger leaves, malformation. (iv) Falling of flowers (v) Necrosis. (vi) Abnormalities in chromosomes. |
MOLYBDENUM MoO42– form (Molybdate ion) = Mo O22+ | (i) Role as prosthetic group of nitrate reductase and nitrogenase in nitrogen metabolism. (ii) Tanin synthesis process. | (i) Interveinal chlorosis e.g. Lemon. (ii) Whip tail of cauliflower. (iii) Inhibition of flowering. |
POTASSIUM K+ is only Monovalant cation in Free form | (i) Not an essential constituent of organic matter but imp. for respiration photosynthesis, protein synth. and DNA synthesis as activator. (ii) Key role in stomatal movement and transpiration. (iii) In starch synthesis & distribution, regulation of permeability and balance charge of cells (Cation-anion balance) (iv) More required by meristematic tissues. | (i) Mottled (interveinal) chlorosis, & shorter the internodes. (bushy habit) (ii) "die-back" disease, (iii) Necrosis & blight effect on leaf tips, margin curve downwards. (iv) Stop the carbohydrate metabolism, storage of carbohydrate in potato, beet, inhibited. (v) Decrease the apical dominance, seed formation is decreased. |
MAGNESIUM Mg++ form | (i) Constituent of Chlor ophyll and in binding of ribosomal units. (ii) Essential for phosphate transfer reactions (P-metabolism). (iii) Activator of many enzymes in Carbohydrate metabolism. hexokinase (iv) In cell wall formation (v) In synthesis of DNA and RNA | (i) Interveinal chlorosis on large scale and formation of anthocyanin in older leaves. (ii) Necrotic spots. (iii) Inhibition of glycolysis Krebs cycle (Carbohydrate metabolism). |
IRON (Fe) Absorption inFe++ (us) form, which is active form. | (i) Absorption from acidic soil, because present in soluble form. (ii) Iron - porphyrin protein for cytochromes, Peroxidase, Catalases (Photorespiration) (iii) Important for ferredoxin , biological N2 fixation & ETS. (iv) Essential role in chlorophyll synthesis. (v) Necessary for activity of aconitase enzyme of respiration. | (i) Rapid Interveinal chlorosis (New leaves) (ii) Inhibition of respiration. (iii) Disintegration of chloroplast. |
MANGANESE Mn++ form | (i) Mn++ is activator of many enzymes - Nitrite reductase, hydroxyl amine reductase decarboxylase, dehydrogenase. (ii) Essential for O2 evolution and photolysis of water in light reaction (iii) Chlorophyll & IAA formation. (iv) Respiratory metabolism. | (i) Deficiency causes chlorotic & necrotic spots on leaves. (Mosaic pattern) (ii) Chlorophyll & starch disappear from plastids. (iii) Marsh spot of pea, and grey speak of oat. (iv) Chlorosis in young & older leaves. |
BORON H3 BO3– or B(OH)3 or BO3–3 (Borate) | (i) B is only micronutrient, which is not associated with enzymes. (ii) Required for uptake and utilisation of Ca2+, membrane functioning, pollen germination, cell elongation, cell differentiation and carbohydrate translocation (iii) Important for active salt absorption, nodule formation and flowering or fruiting. (iv) B is essential in pollen tube formation. (v) Lethal effect at carbo hydrate metabolic site. | (i) Stem and root tips (apex) dies.root growth stunted. (ii) Flower formation supp-resed. (iii) EMP pathway change in HMP (PPP) pathway (iv) Physiological diseases – top rotten in tobacco, water core in turnip, brown heart rot of beets, Brittleness of Celeary stem, Heart rot in carrot & marigold, fibers in apple fruit. |
COPPER Cu++ form 'toxic in High cons. | (i) Essential for overall metabolism in plants. (ii) In redox reaction, associated with many enzymes and is reversibly oxidised from Cu+ to Cu2+ (iii) Vit.-c (ascorbic Acid) formation. | (i) Necrosis of tip in young leaves (wither tip) (ii) "Die-back of citrus" and other fruit trees Exanthema in trees. (iii) Reclamation disease of cereals and legume crops. |
ZINC Zn++ form | (i) Specific role in Auxin (IAA) hormone synthesis in cell. (ii) Activator of Carbonic anhydrase, carboxylases, alcohol dehydrogenase, Peptidase (iii) In seed formation | (i) Check vegetative growth and shorten the internodes leaf deformation. (ii) Mottle leaf disease in fruit trees 'Little leaf disease'. (iii) 'Khaira disease of paddy' Rosset disease in walnut. (iv) Inhibit seed formation, white bud disease in maize. |
SPECIAL POINTS
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1. What are minerals? |
2. How many different types of minerals exist? |
3. What are some examples of minerals and their functions? |
4. How can minerals be obtained through diet? |
5. What happens if there is a deficiency or excess of minerals in the body? |
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