Mineral Nutrition
Mineral Nutrition
Mineral Nutrition
Syllabus : Essential elements, Non essential elements, Function of elements, Deficiency symptoms and Mechanism of
absorption of mineral elements by plants. (As mentioned for AIPMT)
MINERAL NUTRITION
Chemical analysis of the plant ash (the
residue left after the dry matter of the plant has
been burnt) has shown that plants contain about
40 different elements.
Dry ashing of plant tissue is carried out in
an electric muffle at about 300 C. for an hour
and then at 500-550 for another hour or two,
results in the complete oxidation of tissue
organic matter. Some of them are indispensable
or necessary for the normal growth and
development of the plants and they are called as
Essential Elements. Rests of the elements are
called as Non-essential elements.
It is now known that the following 17
elements are essential for majority of the plants
: C, H, O, N ,P, K, Ca, S, Mg, Fe, Zn, B, Cu,
Mn, Ni, Cl and Mo. Besides these, Al, Si, Na,
Co and Ga may be essential for some plants.
3. MINOR ELEMENTS or
MICRONUTRIENTS or TRACE ELEMENTS
The essential elements required in smaller
amounts or traces by the plants are called as
Minor or Trace Elements. They are : Fe, Mn, Cu,
Zn, Mo, B and Cl. Apart from these elements,
recently some more elements have also been
shown to the essential for the normal growth of
some plants such as Na for Atriplex, Most C4
and CAM plants require sodium ions for
regenerating phosphoenolpyruvate.
Si for rice and Cl for coconut and Al, Va and
Co for ferns.
Micronutrients are usually present in the plants
in different chemical forms as :
1. Inorganic ions
2. Undissociated molecules or
3. Organic complexes as chelates
1. MAJOR ELEMENTS
NUTRIENTS
OR
PRIMARY
Protoplasmic elements: N. P, S,
form part of protoplasm
2.SECONDARY NUTRIENTS
These elements are also requited by the plant in
larger quantity next to primary nutrients.
Examples are : Ca, Mg and S.
Cu
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Toxic elements: interfere with
the availability or transport of nutrients.
Al is more available in acidic soils and
complexes with phosphate, creating
phosphate deficiency in soil. The growth
of the tea plant is enhanced by the
presence of available soil aluminum.
Plant show adaptations for the nutrient
characteristics of the soils in which they
grow. Calcicoles are adapted for growth
in
an
alkaline,
high
calcium
environment, where other nutrients are
of low availability, while Calcifuges are
adapted to acidic soils, with high levels
of aluminum and low levels of
phosphate.
higher
calcium
3.
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Legumes usually a
content than grasses.
1.
2.
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box
with
computer
controlled
humid
atmosphere. Plants like Citrus and olive have
been successfully grown through this method.
This approach provides easy manipulation of the
gaseous environment around the root, but it
requires higher levels of nutrients than
hydroponic cultures does to sustain rapid plant
growth. For this reason and other technical
difficulties, the use of aeroponics is not
widespread.
Mechanism
Plants
of
Mineral
uptake
by
greatly
a. CO 2 hypothesis :
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but
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This
equilibrium
is
known
as
Donnans
if there
are fixed
cations (pre-
the
cell
to
maintain
the
back.
anion)
It is suggested that because the cell membranes
chiefly consist of phospholipids and proteins and
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below.
i Temperature
Cytochrome-pump
Theory
(For
the
ii. pH
iii. Light
As opened stomata allow more transpiration and
process of photosynthesis.
electrons (e_).
iv. O 2 content
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vi. Growth
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Vegetative
activity
salt absorption.
suberised
root
is
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unable
to
absorb
growth
and
increased
metabolic
salts.
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Carbon 45%
Oxygen 43%
Hydrogen 6%
Nitrogen
1.3%
Obtaine
d in the
form
No2-,
No3-,
NH4+
Phosphorous
0.05-1.0%
H 2 PO 4 -
Potassium 0.3
6.0 %
K+
Calcium
1-3.5 %
Ca 2+
Magnesium
0.05- 0.7%
Mg 2+
Sulphur 0.05
1.5%
So 4 2-
Iron 10 -1500
ppm
Fe 3+ ,
Fe 2+
Mn
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2+
Role /
Principal function
All cellular constituents
All cellular constituents
-------//------Amino acids, proteins,
purines, pyrimidines,
Hormones, Coenzymes,
chlorophyll, cytochromes
vitamins, ATP
Nucleic acid, nucleoproteins,
phospholipids, AMP, ADP,
ATP, GOP and ATP Co
enzymes NAD, NADP
Opening & closing of stomata
differential permeability
osmotic regulation and
hydration.
1. Cell wall
structure
component of
middle lamella.
2. Permeability of membranes.
3. Organization of mitotic
spindle.
4. Cell elongation.
5. Activators of amylases,
ATPase etc.
1. Component of chlorophyll
2. Cause dimerisation of
ribosome sub units
3. Activator for several
enzymes.
4. Involved in fat and
carbohydrate metabolism
1. Constitutuent of proteins,
containing (Methionine,
cysitne, cysteine)
2. Vitamins, CoA, lipoic acid
ferreodoxin, allyl oils of
onion, garlic, garlic, crucifers.
1. Structural component
of
porphyrin, cytochromes,
hemes, leghaemoglobin.
2. Enzyme system like,
cytochrome oxidase,
aconitase, nitrogenase.
3. Chlorophyll synthesis.
1. Essential for
photolysis of water
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Deficiency symptoms
1.
2.
3.
4.
Internveinal chlorosis.
Formation of anthocyanin.
Underdeveloped phloem.
Extensive chlorenchyma development.
1. Stunted plan.
2. Spare foliage.
3. Chlorosis followed by anthocyanin.
Formation.
4. Increase in starch and sugar
accumulation.
1. Pronounced chlorosis with green veins.
2. Young leaves become yellow or white.
3. Grasses show striping effect
( band of yellow
and green.)
in hills reaction.
Enzyme activator in
respiration & N 2
metabolism.
1. Tryptophan synthesis
essential for
biosynthesis of
Auxin.
2. Activator of several
enzymes and protein
synthesis.
3. Promotes synthesis
of cytochrome
1. Component of cytochrome
oxidase, RuBP carboxylase.
2. Terminal oxidation by
cytochrome oxidase.
3. Photophos phorylation
mediated by plasto cyanin.
4. Maintenance of
carbohydrate and nitrogen
balance.
1. Component of nitrate
reductase.
2. Ascorbic acid synthesis.
3. Ion absorption and
translocation.
1. Translocation of sugar.
2. RNA and phenol
metabolism.
3. GA and K-amylase activity.
4. Affects flowing, fruiting,
germination.
1. Activator of Z enzyme
complex of photolysis (Hills
reaction)
2. Maintenance of osmotic
potential
2.
Zinc 3-150
ppm
Zn +2
Copper 2-75
ppm
Cu +2
Molybdenum
very minute
Mo 3+ ,
Mo 4+
Boron 2- 75
ppm
Bo 3B 4 O 7 2-
Cl -
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Wilting of leaves.
Chlorosis in leaves
Swollen root tips.
Premature flower abscission.
Role of Non essential Elements: Important in synthesis of nucleoproteins, by regulating the transport of amino acids to the nucleus.
Sodium
Cobalt
Maintenance of water balance. Involvement in stomata opening, Nitrate reductase activity. CAM
cycle.
Part of Vitamine B 12 (Cobalamine). Necessary for the functioning of enzyme ribonucleotide
reductase.
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Silicon
Nickel
Selenium
O BJECTIVE P ROBLEMS
1. Major part of dry weight of a plant is derived
from elements obtained froma) Soil
b) Air
c) Water
a) Negatively charged
b) Positively charged
c) Neutral
a) Cell membranes
b) Cell wall
c) Enzymes
d) Carbohydrates
c) Cofactors of enzymes
d) Constituents of chlorophyll
b) N, P and Mg
c) N, P and K
d) Mn, B and Mo
a) Amino acids
b) Carbonates
c) Carbon dioxide
d) Element carbon
b) Manganese
c) Calcium
d) Potassium
a) Fe and Ca
b) Fe and Mg
c) Cu and Ca
d) Ca and K
b) Leaching
c) Weathering
d) Runaway
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b) Is available in soil
c) Improves health
d) Is irreplaceable and indispensable for growth
of plants
d) Denitrification of crops
a) C, H and O
b) Cu, Co and Fe
c) Mg, Cu and Fe
d) Mn, Ca and N
a) Methionine
b) Asparagine
c) Serine
d) Proline
a) Respiration
b) Expenditure of energy
c) Root metabolism
d) Photophosphorylation
d) Donnana equilibrium
a) Controelled irradiation
b) Induction of mutations
a) Neutral ions
c) Controlled humidity
c) Chromosome contraction
d) Carbon assimilation
18. An essential element is that whicha) Is found in plant ash
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a) Leaching
b) Percolation
c) Conduction
d) Transpiration
a) Zn
b) Mn
a) iron
b) calcium
c) K
d) Mg
c) cobalt
d) sodium
b) is available in soil
c) carbon only
d) starch and related compound
27. Who proved for the first time that the plants
contain a large number of minerals and
microelements ?
a) De Saussure (1804)
a) Magnesium
b) Calcium
c) Cobalt
d) Chlorine
b) Leibeg (1840)
c) Glauber and Mayhow (1656)
a) methanogenic archaebacteria
28. Microelements being found in traces have
b) methanogenic bacteria
c) methanogenic fungi
d) methanotropic slime molds.
b) borate
c) sulphur
d) nitrogen
b) Zn
c) Ca
d) P
a) Mg
a) Calcium
b) Magnesium
c) Lead
d) Iron
30. Which one is an essential mineral, notconstituent of any eneyzme but stimulates the
activity of many enzymes ?
a) Zn
b) Mn
c) K
d) Mg
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a) Zn
b) Mn
c) Cu
d) Fe
a) photosynthesis
c) yellowing of leaves
a) Manganese
b) Magnesium
c) Molybdneum
d) Iron
c) fruit ripening
d) retarded plant growth
a) manganese
b) phosphorus
c) copper
d) boron
a) neutral ions
b) negatively charged ions
a) Magnesium
b) Iron
c) Sulphur
d) Nitrogen
b) formation of anthocyanin
b) Sulphur
c) Potassium
d) Nitrogen
a) salt accumulation
b) saturation effect
c) state of equilibrium
d) none of these
d) tannin
45. White-bud condition in maize in produced
due to the deficiency of
a) Iron
b) Molybdenum
c) Zinc
d) Boron
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across
the
cell
a) primary proteins
b) secondary proteins
c) tertiary proteins
d) contractile proteins
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Flower induction
c) Chromosome contraction
d) Carbon assimilation
a) Active absorption
b) Passive absorption
a) Mo
b) Fe
c) Cu
d) Zn
a) cyclic AMP
b) acetyl choline
c) ATP
d) phloroglucinol
b) small leaves
c) decreased protein synthesis
d) intervenal chlorosis appearing first in young
leaves.
ANSWERS
Objective Problems
56. Passage of minerals from top soil to subsoil
through seepage of water is known as
1a
2a
3c
4c
5a
6b
7d
8d
9c
10b
a) leaching
b) percolation
11cd
12b
13d
14d
15b
c) conduction
d) transpiration
16a
17a
18d
19c
20a
21a
22a
23d
24a
25d
26a
27b
28b
29a
30c
31c
32d
33c
34a
35b
36c
37d
38d
39b
40b
41b
42d
43b
44a
45c
46c
47c
48b
49a
50a
51a
52d
53b
54c
55b
56a
57c
58b
59b
60a
61c
62d
b) Ferredoxin
c) Lectithin
d) Plastoquionone
b) Fe and Mg
c) Cu and Ca
d) Ca and K
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