Mineral and Nutrition Flashcards
what is mineral nutrition?
It deals with the study of procurement of inorganic nutrients or mineral elements by plants, their essentiality physiological role, etc.
Who is Julis von Sachs?
He introduced the technique of growing plants in a definite nutrient solution without soil known as hydroponics.(1860)
What is hydroponics?
It is a method of growing plants without soil, using nutrient solution with definite propotion.
How were essential elements identified and their deficiency symptoms discovered?
After a series of trial and errors during hydroponics resulted in standardization of composition of mineral salts or nutrients needed for normal growth and development, using these the deficiency symptoms were discovered
How were essential elements identified and their deficiency symptoms discovered?
After a series of trial and errors during hydroponics resulted in standardization of composition of mineral salts or nutrients needed for normal growth and development, using these the deficiency symptoms were discovered
Name the vegetables which are produced commercially through hydroponics?
Tomato, seedless cucumber, lettuce, etc.
what are the conditions required for the optimal growth of hydroponics?
Nutrient solutions must be adequately aerated to obtain the optimum growth.
How many elements are present in plants?
60 elements out of 105 are present in plants.
what is the route of entry of mineral elements from soil to plants?
Through root.
Criteria for essentiality of elements.
(i) Absolutely necessary for supporting normal growth.
(ii) In the absence of the element the plant does not complete their life cycle or set seeds.
(iii) Element must be specific and irreplaceable by another element.
(iv) element must be directly involved in the metabolism of the plants.
What are macronutrients?
The nutrients present in plants tissues in large amount in excess of 10milimole/kg or 1-10mg/g of dry matter.
The macronutrients are C, H, O, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg. (CHOPCaNMgSK)
What are micronutrients?
The nutrients present in plant tissue in very small amount less than 10m mole/kg or 0.1 mg/g of dry matter.
The micronutrients are Fe, Mn, Cu, Mo, Zn, B, Cl, Ni. (MoNiCu FeZn BClMn)
Which are the other elements required by some higher plants?
Na, Si, Co, Se (SiCo SeNa).
Which elements act as components of bio molecules?
C, H, O, N.
Which elements act as components of energy related chemical compounds in plants?
Magnesium in chlorophyll, phosphorus in ATP.
Name the elements that activate or inhibit the enzymes?
Mg^2+ is the activator for both rubisco and PEP carboxylase. (Critical enzymes in photosynthetic carbon fixation).
Zn2+ is an activator of alcoholic dehydrogenase.
Mo activator of nitrogenase during N2 fixation.
Which element plays a vital role in opening and closing of stomata?
Potassium(K).
What are the role of macronutrients?
Metabolic process like,
1. Permeability of cell membrane.
2. maintanence of osmotic concentration of cell sap.
3. Electron transport system.
4. Buffering action.
5. enzymatic activity.
6. Major constituents of bio macro molecules and coenzymes.
Which element is required by plants in greatest amount ?
Nitrogen(N).
Mention the different forms of nitrogen absorbed by plants?
NO3-(nitrate), NO2-(nitrtite), NH4+(Ammonium ion).
Mention the parts of plants that require nitrogen?
Meristematic tissues and metabolically active cells.
Mention the biomolecules in which nitrogen is a major constituent?
Proteins, nucleic acids, hormones and vitamins.
Mention the different forms of phosphorus absorbed by plants?
Phosphate ions (H2PO4-/HPO4^2-).
Mention the biomolecules in which phosphorus is present?
Cell membrane, certain proteins, nucleic acids, phosphorylation reaction.
In which form potassium is absorbed by plants?
K+ ion.
Which parts of plants require potassium?
Meristematic tissues, leaves, buds and root tips.
what is the role of potassium in plant nutrition?
Helps in maintaining anion-cation balance, protein synthesis, opening and closing of stomata, activation of enzymes, maintenance of turgidity of cells.
In which form calcium is absorbed by plants?
Ca++.
Which parts of plants require calcium?
1.Meristematic and differentiating tissues.
2.Synthesis of cell wall during cell division,3. particularly as calcium pectate in the middle lamellae.
4.. Accumulates on older leaf.
5. Cell membrane for normal functioning.
What is the role of calcium in plants?
- Formation of mitotic spindle.
- Normal functioning of cell membrane.
- activates certain enzymes.
- Regulating metabolic activity.
Which parts of plants require Magnesium?
Mg++
Role of magnesium in plants?
Activates enzymes of respiration, photosynthesis
Mention the form in which sulphate is absorbed by the plants?
Sulphate ion (SO4–)
Which biomolecules constitute Sulphur?
or
Mention the biomolecules in which Sulphur is the constituent?
Amino acids like Cysteine, Methionine
Coenzymes
Vitamins like Thiamine, biotin CoA
Ferredoxin
Mention the form in which iron is absorbed in plants?
Fe+++
Mention the role iron in plants?
1.Plasma membrane proteins
involved in the transport of electrons like ferredoxin and cytochromes.
2.Reversibly oxidized from Fe2+ to Fe3+ during electron transport.
3.Activates catalase enzyme for formation of chlorophyll
In what form Manganese is absorbed by the plants?
Mn++
What is the role of Mn in plants?
1.It activates enzymes involved in photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogen metabolism.
2.It involves in photolysis of water to liberate oxygen during photosynthesis
Mention the 3 distinct characteristics of Zn in plants?
- It is absorbed by plants in the form of Zn++ ions
- It activates enzyme Carboxylase.
- Involved in synthesis of Auxin.
Mention the 3 distinct characteristics of Cu in plants?
- It is absorbed in the form of cupric ions.(Cu++).
- Essential for overall metabolism in plants.
- Association with enzymes involved in redox reactions, reversibly oxidized from Cu to Cu++.
Mention three distinct characteristics of Boron?
- It is absorbed by plants in the form of BO3— and B4O7–.
- Uptake and utilization of Ca ++, membrane functioning, pollen germination.
- Cell elongation, cell differentiation and carbohydrate translocation.
Mention two distinct characteristics of Mo?
- Absorbed in the form of Molybdate ions(MoO2–).
- Component of enzymes nitrogenase and nitrate reductase.
Mention three distinct characteristics of chlorine?
1.Absorbed in the form of chloride(Cl-) ions in plants.
2. Determining solute concentration, cation-anion balance in cells.
3. Essential for photolysis of water in photosynthesis leads to evolution of oxygen.
What is critical concentration?
It is the concentration of essential element below which plant growth is retarded.
When is an element said to be deficient ?
When it is present below the critical concentration.
Mention the effects due to deficiency of essential element in plants?
1.Since the elements play on or more specific structural and functional role in plants, in the absence of any particular element plants show certain morphological changes. Morphological changes are indicative of deficiency of certain element and are called deficiency symptoms.
2. If the deprivation continues it may eventually lead to death of the plant.
Mention a factor which influences deficiency symptoms?
Mobility of element in the plant.