Beneficial nutrient elements (Plant Physiology)

Nutrients and its types, micro and macro nutrients, signs of nutrient deficiency.

1. BENEFICIAL NUTRIENT ELEMENTS M.SC BOTANY

2. Nutrient A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow, and reproduce. Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excreted by cells to create non-cellular structures, such as hair, scales, feathers, or exoskeletons.  Plants require more diverse minerals absorbed through roots, plus carbon dioxide and oxygen absorbed through leaves. Fungi live on dead or living organic matter and meet nutrient needs from their host.

3. Macro-Elements: 1. They occur in plants in easily detectable quantities. 2. The concentration of a macro-element per gm. of dry matter is at least 1 mg or 1000 µg/gm. of the dry matter. 3. They build up the plant body and different protoplasmic constituents. 4. Some macro-elements accumulate in cell sap and take part in developing osmotic potential. 5. Turgor movements are mostly caused by in­flux & efflux of potassium, a macro-element. 6. They do not become toxic in slight excess.

4. Macronutrients Plants require nine different macronutrients to survive. They include: Carbon (C): Required for the plant to form carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids, among other compounds; the most abundant element in plant cells, accounting for about 50 percent of the cell Nitrogen (N): Part of proteins and nucleic acids; used to synthesize vitamins Hydrogen (H): Used with oxygen to form water Oxygen (O): Used with hydrogen for cellular respiration; required to store energy in the form of ATP

5. Phosphorus (P): Used to synthesize nucleic acids and phospholipids; enables food energy to be converted into chemical energy Potassium (K): Helps to regulate stomatal opening and closing, which maintains a healthy water balance Sulfur (S): Part of amino acids such as cysteine and methionine Calcium (Ca): Regulates nutrient transport and supports enzyme functions Magnesium (Mg): Used in the photosynthetic process

6. Macronutrient Deficiency If a plant is deficient in any of the nutrients—particularly macronutrients—the plant's growth can suffer. A deficiency might show up as slow growth, stunted growth, or chlorosis, which is a decrease of the normal green color of a plant's leaves. In the case of a severe deficiency, the plant can show signs of cell death

7. Micro-Elements: 1 . They occur in plants in very small amounts. 2. The concentration of a microelement is equal to or less than 0.1 mg/gm. of dry matter. 3. Microelements do not have such a role. 4. Microelements, being found in traces only, have no significant role in the development of osmotic potential. 5. None of the microelements have any such function. 6. Microelements are toxic in slight excess.

8. Trace elements can be conveniently divided into four groups: the essential—so far the following six have been conclusively proved to be essential for normal plant growth—B, Zn, Cu, Mn, Mo and Co; the probably essential—-elements like selenium, barium, etc.; the toxic—all essential macro- and micronutrients in high dosages and physiologically inactive elements—arsenic, etc.

9. Micronutrient Deficiency Symptoms Boron Chlorosis, leaf deformation with patches of discolouration Chlorine Chlorosis, wilting of leaves Copper Overall chlorosis, twisting of leaf tips, turgor loss in young leaves Iron Chlorosis between the veins of the new leaves Molybdenum Chlorosis of oldest leaves Manganese Chlorosis between the veins of the new leaves Zinc Reduced growth of young leaves than normal

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