Functions of Essential Elements in Plants

#Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

They are absorbed in the form of carbon dioxide and water from air and soil. These three elements enter the composition of all types of organic compounds like carbohydrates, organic acids, fats, proteins, enzymes, hormones etc., which build up the protoplasm. Deficiency of carbon dioxide or water causes retardation of growth.

#Nitrogen
Nitrogen is obtained from the soil in the form of nitrates (NO2-), nitrites (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+) salts.

Functions: Nitrogen is a constituent of amino acids, proteins, amides, nucleic acids,

enzymes some co-enzymes, chlorophyll and alkaloids. It is, therefore, essential for cell division, full vegetative and reproductive growth, metabolic activities of cell, photosynthesis, etc.

Deficiency:
1. Chlorosis, which starts from older leaves and progresses to younger leaves. 2. The leaves show mottled appearance of purple or red anthocyanin pigments over the vein. Examples: tomato, apple 3. Lateral buds remain dormant. 4. There is little tillering in cereals. 5. Flower formation is either suppressed or only a few flowers are formed, which lead to the formation of small fruits and less viable seeds. 6. In potato, smaller and fewer tubers are produced.

#Phosphorus
It is obtained from the soil in the form of phosphates (H2PO4- or HPO42-).

Function: It is a component of nucleic acid, phospholipids, ATP, nucleoprotein, NAD,

NADP and a number of co-enzymes. Since the young cells are the seat of maximum metabolic activities, maximum phosphorus is found in the meristems, fruits and seeds.

Deficiency
1. Stunted growth. 2. Premature leaf fall. 3. Chlorosis appears later, which is of mottled type and is shown first by older leaves. 4. Necrosis in lamina, petiole and skin of soft fruits. 5. Lateral buds show prolonged dormancy, but active buds are not affected. 6. Vascular tissues are poorly developed.

#Sulphur
It is absorbed from the soil in the form of sulphate (SO 42-) though small quantities of sulphur dioxide can be got from the air by foliar absorption.

Function
1. For the formation of sulphur containing protein. 2. It is a component of two vitamins. (B and Biotin). 3. In onion and garlic, sulphur occurs in the form of glucosides, which provide characteristic odour to these plants. 4. Sinigrin and sinalbin are glucosides in black and white mustards respectively. 5. Enhances the number of nodules and nitrogen fixing bacteria in legumes. 6. Formation of chlorophyll.

Deficiency
1. Leaves show chlorosis. 2. Reduction in juice content of citrus fruits. 3. Fruit formation, in general is retarded. 4. "Tea yellow" in tea plant. 5. Premature germination of lateral buds, killing of young branches. 6. Smaller and chlorotic leaves. 7. Necrosis of leaf margin and tip. 8. Inward rolling of leaf margin and rapid defoliation.

#Potassium
It is absorbed in the form of K+ ions.

Functions
It is the most abundant cation in plants. 1. Required for the metabolic activities of cells in young growing parts like root tips and young leaves but seeds are an exception. 2. Essential for the functioning of about forty enzymes which take part in glycolysis, Kreb's Cycle, photosynthesis, starch synthesis, synthesis of nucleic acids and chlorophyll and the activity of ATP in many reactions. 3. It maintains hydration, permeability and reactive state of protoplasm. 4. Produces turgor pressure inside cells for their movements. 5. Stomatal opening and closing is linked to its influx and efflux from the guard cells.

Deficiency
1. Leaves show chlorosis. 2. Necrosis at the leaf tip, margin or irregular patches. 3. Citrus leaves become bronzed and twisted. 4. Growth is stunted due to reduced apical activity. 5. Apical buds may die - Loss of apical dominance is a characteristic deficiency symptom of K+ ions and it leads to bushy growth. 6. Cereals may show lodging.

#Magnesium
It is absorbed as Mg2+ ions.

Functions
1. Is a component of chlorophyll and magnesium pectate. 2. Essential for the formation of carotenoids. 3. Required by a large number of enzymes connected with phosphate transfer. 4. For binding of ribosomes. 5. Higher concentrations of Mg2+ ions are found in seeds and growing areas of root and stem.

Deficiency
1. Chlorosis. Yellow, red and purple tints are often found in the chlorotic areas, especially towards the margins. 2. Followed by necrosis. 3. Defoliation may occur.

4. Reduced vegetative and reproductive growth. 5. Phloem and pith become reduced or remain undeveloped. 6. Tomato fruits having pale orange colour, reduced pulp and woolly flesh.

#Calcium
It is absorbed as Ca2+ ions.

Functions
1. Calcium is a component of calcium pectate, which is found in the middle lamella. 2. Acts as an activator of enzymes like ATP-ase, some kinases, phospholipases, aamylase and succinate dehydrogenase. 3. Takes part in lipid metabolism. 4. Required in the maintenance of cell membrane. 5. Essential for control of carbohydrate metabolism. 6. Plays some role in binding nucleic acids and proteins in chromosomes. 7. Counteracts toxicities of other metallic ions.

Deficiency
1. Fragility of chromosomes. 2. Roots become translucent and stop apical growth. 3. Young leaves show marginal and apical withering. 4. Flower and fruit stalks break - premature falling.

#Iron
Absorb from soil in both Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions.

Functions
1. Iron is a constituent of cytochromes, ferredoxin, nitrogenase, catalase peroxidase, hematin etc. 2. Essential for the development of chloroplast and chlorophyll. 3. Many of iron containing enzymes take part in electron transfer in both photosynthesis and respiration. 4. Structure of polyribosomes is dependent upon iron containing compounds. 5. Activator of nitrate reductase. 6. Synthesis of proteins and DNA.

Deficiency
Chlorosis - inter veinal chlorosis.

#Manganese
It is absorbed as Mn2+ ions.

Functions
1. Activator of enzymes like oxidases, peroxidases, dehydrogenase, kinases and dicarboxylases. 2. Maintenance of lamellar structure of chloroplast. 3. Essential for photolysis of water and evolution of oxygen.

Deficiency
1. Chlorotic patches are in the form of specks or reticulations in dicots and stripes in monocots.

2. Necrosis may follow. 3. Leaves show premature fall or do not develop at all. 4. Both stem and root experience stunted growth. Their apices may die back. 5. Flowers are often sterile. 6. Grey spot disease in oat develops due to manganese deficiency.

#Zinc
It is obtained as Zn2+ ions.

Functions
1. Constituent of carbonic anhydrase - zinc is essential for supply of CO 2 to the chloroplast and for the evolution of CO2 during respiration. 2. Production of IAA (auxin)

Deficiency
1. Inter veinal chlorosis 2. Followed by necrosis 3. Terminal bud dies and leads to leaf rosettes

#Boron
It is absorbed in the form of borate ions (BO33- or B4O72-).

Functions:
1. Favours absorption of calcium 2. Produces root nodules in legumes

Deficiency:
1. Causes disintegration of softer tissues 2. Browning of cauliflower 3. Heart rot of sugar beet 4. Reduced transpiration due to defunctioning of stomata

#Copper
It is mostly absorbed as Cu2+ ions though the element can also exist as Cu+ion.

Functions:
1. It can take part in electron transport system in both respiration and photosynthesis. 2. In photosynthesis the copper containing enzyme is plastocyanin. 3. It is the connecting link between photo system - I and II.

Deficiency:
1. Appearance of dark green colour in young leaves followed by chlorosis. 2. In exanthema the tree barks show deep slits from which gum exudes. 3. The reclamation disease is named so because of its widespread presence in reclaimad lands of Europe. Tips of leaves undergo chlorosis. Hence also known as the Leaf -Tip disease.

#Molybdenum
Absorbed from soil as molybdate ion (MoO22+).

Functions:
Essential for nitrogen fixation.

Deficiency
1. Yellow spot disease of citrus fruits 2. Whiptail disease in crucifers like cabbage 3. Flowers show premature fall 4. In cauliflower the inflorescence loses its compact form

#Chlorine
Is absorbed as Cl- ions.

Functions:
Its precise role is not well known. i) However, with Na+ and K+, it helps in determining solute concentration and anioncation balance in the cells. ii) Chlorine plays an important role in photosynthesis. It takes part in the water splitting reaction, thus releasing oxygen.

Deficiency:
1. Leaves become wilted 2. Chlorosis and then necrosis 3. Leaves develop bronze colour 4. Root growth is stunted 5. Fruit formation is retarded