Table

Role of Mineral Elementns in Plants

Element Obtained as from soil Regions of plant in which reguired Functions
Sulphur SO2+4 Stem and root tips; young leaves; remobilised during senescence Constituent of certain proteins, vitamins (thiamine, blotin, CoA) and ferredoxin
Iron Fe3+ Everywhere; collects along leaf veins Constituent of ferredoxin and cytochromes; activates catalase; required for synthesis of chlorophyll
Manganese (trace) Mn2+ Leaves and seeds Activates certain enzymes (carboxylases)
Molybdenum (trace) MO3+or MO4+ Everywhere; Mo3+particularly in roots Activates certain enzymes in nitrogen metabolism
Boron (trace) BO33-,B4O22- Leaves and seeds Required for uptake and utilisation of Ca2+, pollen germination and cell differentiation, carbohydrate translocation.
Copper (trace) Cu2+ Everywhere Activates certain enzymes
Zinc (trace) Zn2+ Everywhere Activates various enzymes especially carboxylases, part of carbonic anhydrase and various dehydrogenases; needed for auxin synthesis.
Chlorine Cl– — With na+and K+helps determine solute concentration and anion-cation balance in cells; essential for oxygen evolution in photo-synthesis.
Nitrogen NO2NO3–or NH4+ Everywhere Constituent of proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins, hormones, coenzymes, ATP, chlorophyll.
Phosphorus H2PO4/PO42- Everywhere particularly in meristematic tissues Constituent of Cell membrane, certain proteins; all nucleric acids and nucleotides; required for all phoshphorylation reactions.
Potassium K+ Younger tissues, withdrawn from older, metabolically less active cells Helps determine anion-cation balance in cells; involved in protein synthesis; involved in formation of cell membrane and in opening and closing of stomate; increases hardiness; activates enzymes and helps in main-tenance of turgidity of cells.
Calcium Ca2+ Meristematic tissues; buds, leaves, root tips Involved in selective permeability of cell membranes; activates certain enzymes; required for development of stem and root apex, and as calcium pectate in the middle lamella of the cell wall.
Magnesium Mg2+ Leaves; withdrawn from ageing leaves and exported to developing seeds Activates enzymes in phosphate metabolism; constituent of chlorophyll; maintains ribosome structure.
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