Eureka Teresa M.

Ocampo

Topic Outline
1.  Overview of Physiological Processes
Topical Outline
Chapter II
2.  Photosynthesis
1.  Chemical reac4on
6. C3 vs C4 Plants
3.  Requirements – Similari4es
Physiological Processes 1.  Sunlight’s energy

Affec4ng Plant Growth 2.  Plant’s photosynthe4c machinery – Differences

4.  Important reac4ons
1.  Light reac4on 7. CAM Plants
2.  Dark reac4on
5.  Photorespira4on

3 Major Processes in Plant Growth

Photosynthesis
1.  Anabolic (small molecules combined)
Photosynthesis 2.  Endergonic (stores CHEMICAL energy)
3.  Carbon dioxide (CO2) requiring process that
uses light energy (photons) and water (H2O)
to produce organic macromolecules
Transpira4on (glucose).
SUN

photons

Respira4on 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

glucose

hNp://
6
extension.oregonstate.edu/
mg/botany/growth.html

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Plants Chloroplast
• Autotrophs – produce their own •  Have TWO membranes
food (glucose) –  A “bi-bilayer!”
•  Thylakoids are sub-
• Photosynthesis mainly occurs organelles where PS
takes place
in the leaves: •  Thylakoids are stacked
a. stoma - pores Chloroplasts
–  granum (grana plural).
•  The stroma is the space
b. mesophyll cells surrounding the grana

Image source: http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/C/chloroplasts.html

Thylakoid membrane Stroma

DARK REACTION

C3 CYCLE

How is light energy harvested by

chlorophyll molecules?

hNp://leavingbio.net/PHOTOSYNTHESIS.htm

•  Chlorophyll molecules are found in the green internal

organs of the chloroplast and are embedded in the
thylakoid membrane
•  Act like a light “antenna” and absorb energy from sunlight
Light and dark reactions of photosynthesis (Campbell and Reece, 2001)

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Light (dependent)Reac4ons

Photosystem - clusters of thylakoid membranes (with

chlorophyll pigments) that harvest light energy
The Z-scheme of light reac4on

Thylakoid membrane Stroma Light Independent Reac4ons

(also called “dark reac4on”, C3, Calvin, Calvin-Benson cycles)
DARK REACTION 1 molecule of CO2 fixed =
C3 CYCLE 3 ATP and 2 NADPH are used
C3
cpd!

Light and dark reactions of photosynthesis (Campbell and Reece, 2001)

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Photorespira4on
•  Rubisco carboxylates and
oxygenates
Rate of photorespira4on
•  21% O2 and 0.038% CO2 à is s4mulated by four
oxygenase! factors:
•  oxida4on of RuBP yields 1 1) high light levels,
molecule of 3-PGA and 1 2) high O2 levels,
molecule of 3) low CO2 levels and
phosphoglycolate, a 2- 4) high temperatures
carbon compound
Photorespira4on is a process wherein Rubisco catalyzes an
oxygena4on reac4on to produce 1 molecule of 3 PG and 1 Photorespiration loses 25% of the carbon it takes
molecule of CO2 from the Calvin cycle à wasteful process

PHOTORESPIRATION + C2

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
RuBP CYCLE 1.  25% of the carbon is lost during
CO O2
3-phosphoglycerate (3-C)
photorespiraBon
two 3-phosphoglycerate (3- 2
RuBP
C) carboxyla(on oxygena(on + 2.  metabolically-expensive reacBon
2-phosphoglycolate (2-C)
Photorespira4on is a wasteful – Uses up five ATP and three NADPH for every
oxygenaBon of RuBP
O2
process and is exhibited by C3
reac4on intermediates in
– Addi4onal 50% of the amount of energy
peroxisome and
mitochondrion plants! expended on carboxylaBon
CO2
ATP + NADPH

3-phosphoglycerate (3-C)
3.  Result in lower rate of dry maNer
C3 produc4on because of lower photosyntheBc
cycle
efficiency.

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Plants have evolved • The Calvin cycle (Dark Reaction)

• produces 3-phosphoglycerate, a three-carbon compound,
as the first stable intermediate.

means to avoid • C3 plants, because the first stable intermediate has three
carbons
• rice, wheat and soybeans. C4 pathway or
photorespira4on • Many plant species first incorporate carbon dioxide into
four-carbon compounds before undergoing the Calvin cycle
• C4 plants
Hatch-Slack
C4 and CAM Pathway
• thousand species in at least 19 families including corn
sugarcane, and important agricultural grasses

• This pathway is adaptive, because it enhances carbon

pathways fixation under conditions that favor photorespiration, such

as hot, arid environments.

1.  Bundle-sheath cells

in C4 plants
Calvin cycle is
confined to the
chloroplasts of
the bundle
sheath.
2. Mesophyll cells in CAM pathway
C4 plants
have an additional
enzyme,
phosphoenol
pyruvate C4 plants and C3 plants
carboxylase (PEP both have the 2 phases
carboxylase) of photosynthesis!
Krantz Anatomy

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

C3 photosynthesis

C4 photosynthesis

CAM photosynthesis
CAM pathway

ComparaBve AdapBve Values

Separated in space Separated in time

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Chapter II
RESPIRATION
oxida4on

Respira4on is the apparent opposite of PS but there are

:www.bchs.k12.va.us salient differences in the 2 processes

Respira4on Photosynthesis
Occurrence in all living organisms in green plants THREE stages of dark respiration
Reactants C6H12O6 + O2 CO2 + H2O
End Products CO2 + H2O + E C6H12O6 + O2
•  Respiration is also called dark 1. Glycolysis
respiration
Cytoplasm and
Organelle/s involved mitochondria Chloroplast
2. Krebs cycle
Light not required required – Not the same as photorespiration!!!
Chlorophyll a)  Tricarboxylic acid cycle
– Dark respiration also occurs in the
not required required
Sensi4vity to only the dark
LIGHT!! b) Citric acid cycle
temperature sensi>ve reac>on
Energy 3. Electron transport system
transforma4on
Reac4on type
chemical to heat
exergonic
light to chemical
endergonic
(ETS)
Effect on plant
biomass decrease increase

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Overview of Respiration 1. Glycolysis Overview of Respiration

2. Krebs Cycle/Citric Acid Cycle/ TCA Overview of Respiration 3. Electron Transport Chain/System

1.  NADH-Q reductase

2.  Ubiquinone (Q)
3.  cytochrome reductase
4.  Cytochrome C
5.  Cytochrome oxidase

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Energy yield for the complete oxidation of

Substrate Phosphoryla4on Oxida4ve Phosphoryla4on 1 glucose molecule

An enzyme
catalyzed
reaction
wherein a
phosphate
group is directly
transferred to
ADP to form
ATP 1 NADH à 3ATP
1 FADH2 à 2 ATP
Theore4cal yield More realis4c yield ~30 ATP

Two Components of Respira4on R = Rg + Rm k and c are coefficents for photosynthesis

R = Rg + Rm k and c are coefficents for photosynthesis R = kP + cW and weight respec>vely
R = kP + cW and weight respec>vely
Maintenance Respira4on (Rm)
Growth Respira4on (Rg)
• Dry mass (W)
•  Gross photosynthesis (P) •  Energy comes protein breakdown and respiratory processes to
•  Energy for conver4ng products of photosynthesis into plant produce CO2
material
•  (Rm) is for Cellular func4onality
•  k varies: 0.12 and 0.45 with plant species and plant 4ssues
1.  cellular structures and intracellular gradients of ions and
1.  NADH-Q reductase •  Rg as the source of energy metabolites
2.  Ubiquinone (Q)
1) reduc4on of nitrate and sulfate taken from the soil
3.  cytochrome reductase 2.  physiological adapta4on to changing environment
4.  Cytochrome C 2) ac4ve uptake of minerals and organic substrates into growing cells
5.  Cytochrome oxidase
3) monomer synthesis 3.  coefficient c varies with bio4c and environmental factors
4) Polymeriza4on 5) tool maintenance, 6) ac4ve mineral uptake by •  Factors that affect the rate of maintenance respira4on also
roots influence crop growth
Chemiosmo4c theory 7) phloem loading in source organs

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Factors That Increase Respira4on Rates

1.  Age and nature of 4ssues
–  More acBve, younger, higher moisture content, damaged

Chapter II
2.  Higher Temperature
3.  Increased availability of Oxygen
–  Limited levels (hypoxia)
–  Absence (anoxia)
•  Flooding is detrimental to plants due to loss of respira4on TRANSPIRATION
4.  Decreased levels of carbon dioxide
–  Feedback inhibi4on Chloroplasts

–  Accumula4on of product inhibits the forward reac4on

•  Storage under high CO2 decreases respira4on and increases
shelf life

TRANSPIRATION Importance of Transpira4on

1.  Keeps cells hydrated
2.  Maintains favorable turgor pressure for the
•  Process where water in liquid form in plants transport of nutrients absorbed by the roots from
is converted to vapor and released to the
the soil
atmosphere
3.  Cools the plant
–  heat load is dissipated in the process due to the high heat of
•  Energy dependent process vaporiza4on of water
–  If transpira4on is extremely high à dehydra4on and desicca4on à
death
539 cal g-1 *** daily water loss
H2O(liquid) H2O(gas) –  large, well-aerated, tropical plant: 500 L
–  corn plant : 3-4 L day-1 (99% of the water absorbed by a corn plant
during its growing season is lost in transpira4on)
Michigan Environmental Educa>on Curriculum –  tree-size desert cactus loses less than 25 mL day-1
The Watershed Concept

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Path of water movement from leaf to the atmosphere (Heldt, 2005)

What affects diffusion of water?
Types of Transpira4on 1.  evaporation of water from cell surfaces (phase change of water)
2.  diffusion of water vapor from leaf intracellular spaces to the v Rela>ve humidity (RH) (%)
Based on the avenue of exit of water vapor atmosphere
v actual water vapor in the air: water vapor pressure in leaf
q Cu4cular transpira4on v In leaves à 100% RH; in atmosphere, RH rarely exceeds
q  Loss of water through cuBcle
90%
q 5-10% of the water loss
v water diffuses out from the plants to the atmosphere
q Len4cular transpira4on

q Len>cels - pores in the outer layer of a woody plant stem
v Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) (pascal (Pa))
q In deciduous species (trees which sheds off leaves) and in some
fruits, water loss through lenBcels may be quite substanBal. v Actual water vapor pressure - water vapor pressure at satura4on at
the same temperature
q Stomatal transpira4on v when VPD is 0 Pa (i.e. when RH of the atmosphere is 100%), there is
q Through the stomata no net movement of water
q As much as 90% of the water lost from plants. v when the RH of the atmosphere is low, the VPD is high, and the rate
gradient of water vapor between the leaf intercellular spaces and the
external atmosphere is the driving force for transpira4on of transpira4on is faster

Soil-Plant-Air Con4nuum of Water Soil-Plant-Air Con4nuum of Water Uses plasmodesmata that combines apoplasBc transport with a
secreBon- and endocytosis-based or passive
interconnect the cytoplasms
Transpira4on Stream channel- and carrier-based pathway to diffusion
of neighboring cells
1.  Movement of water from the soil to the root xylem cross plasma membranes.

a. Extracellular or apoplas>c route - water moves through non-living

parts, e.g. capillary spaces of the cell walls and intercellular spaces
b. Intracellular route
1) symplasBc pathway - plasmodesmata
2) transmembrane or transcellular pathway - vacuolar membrane
(tonoplast) and the plasma membranes

2. Movement of water from root xylem to leaf xylem

–  transpira4on-cohesion-adhesion theory

3. Movement of water from leaf xylem to the air

1.  Movement of water from the soil to the root xylem
–  influenced by RH and VPD
–  Towards lower water potenBal (Ψ; expressed in MPa) Possible routes of water movement through the root to the xylem: apoplas4c, Auxin and other signals on the move in plants
Hélène S Robert & Ji í Friml
symplas4c, and transcellular pathways (adopted from Öpik and Rolfe, 2005) Nature Chemical Biology 5, 325 - 332 (2009) Published online: 17 April 2009

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Soil-Plant-Air Con4nuum of Water The transpira4on-

2. Movement of water from root xylem to leaf xylem
cohesion-adhesion theory Factors affec4ng Transpira4on
1.  Movement of water from the soil to the root xylem I.  Plant Factors
1.  water vapor leaves the air spaces
a. Extracellular or apoplas>c route - water moves through non-living of the plant via the stomates 1.  Efficiency of evapora>ve surface
parts, e.g. capillary spaces of the cell walls and intercellular spaces
2.  this water is replaced by 2.  Efficiency of water absorp>on.
b. Intracellular route
evapora4on of the thin layer of 3.  Other surface/stomatal modifica>ons.
1) symplasBc pathway - plasmodesmata water that clings to the mesophyll
2) transmembrane or transcellular pathway - vacuolar membrane cells 4.  Phytohormones
(tonoplast) and the plasma membranes 3.  tension (pulling) on the water in
5.  Canopy structure.
the xylem gently pulls the water
toward the direc4on of water loss
II.  Environmental Factors
2 . Movement of water from root xylem to leaf xylem
1.  Edaphic (soil) factors
4.  the cohesion of water is strong
–  transpira4on-cohesion-adhesion theory enough to transmit this pulling 2.  Atmospheric factors

force all the way down to the •  Light
3. Movement of water from leaf xylem to the air roots •  Rela4ve humidity
–  influenced by RH and VPD •  Temperature
5.  adhesion of water to the cell wall
also aids in resis4ng gravity •  Wind velocity
–  Towards lower water potenBal (Ψ; expressed in MPa) •  Oxygen and carbon dioxide concentra4ons

3 Major Processes in Plant Growth

Factors affec4ng transpira4on
•  Leaf number: more leaves, more transpiraBon
•  Number, size, posi4on of stomata: more and Photosynthesis
large, more transpiraBon, under leaf, less
transpiraBon
•  Cu4cle: waxy cuBcle, less evaporaBon from leaf
Chapter II
surface
•  Light: more gas exchange as stomata are open
•  Temperature: high temperature, more TRANSLOCATION TRANSLOCATION Transpira4on

evaporaBon, more diffusion

•  Humidity: high humidity, less transpiraBon
Respira4on
•  Wind: more wind, more transpiraBon
•  Water availability: less water in soil, less
transpiraBon (e.g. in winter, plants lose leaves) hNp://
extension.oregonstate.edu/
mg/botany/growth.html

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Why need a transport system

in plants? TRANSPIRATION
If is the
•  so that cells deep within transport of water and nutrients from soil
the plants 4ssues can
thru roots and xylem,
receive the nutrients they
need for cell processes
•  roots can obtain water,
then TRANSLOCATION is
but not sugar, the movement of assimilates (sugars and
•  leaves can produce sugar, other chemicals) from the leaf through the
but can’t get water from phloem to other areas for storage, u4liza4on
the air and consump4on by the plant

•  Sugars required for metabolism

–  all the 4me, in all 4ssues

•  Sugars produced only

–  by source 4ssues
–  in light period

•  Transloca4on occurs
–  source to sink over short term
–  from storage 4ssues to young
4ssues over long term

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

So, where do the sugars and

Direc4on of long distance
the sucrose come from? ALLOCATION
Photosynthetic cell
•  Sucrose is principal transport
photosynthe4c product •  The channelling of fixed carbon into various
–  accounts for most of CO2 absorbed
• From Source: a part of the metabolic pathways within an organ or Bssue
•  important storage sugar plant that releases sucrose to
–  tap root of carrots and sugar beet (up to •  In a source organ:
20% dry weight) the phloem e.g. leaf –  Metabolic uBlizaBon within the chloroplast
–  and in leaves, eg 25% leaf dry weight in
ivy • To Sink: a part of the plant –  Synthesiszof starch within the chloroplasts
•  major form for that removes sucrose from
–  Synthesis of sucrose for export to sink
transloca4on of carbon the phloem e.g. root
–  from photosynthe4c leaves (source •  In a sink organ
leaves)
–  in germina4ng seedlings aver starch or • Plant part can act as source or sink depending –  Metabolic uBlizaBon and growth processes
lipid breakdown on stage
–  Storage

Phloem transloca4on from source to sink or ASSIMILATE PARTITIONING

(adopted from Öpik and Rolfe, 2005)
Mechanism of translocaBon of
PARTITIONING
•  DISTRIBUTION of assimilates to compeBng
photosynthates
sinks 1.  Mass or bulk flow (Münch pressure flow
–  Lower mature leaves feed mainly the roots hypothesis)
–  Higher mature leaves feed mainly the young 2.  Diffusion- slow
leaves and shoot apex 3.  Cytoplasmic streaming- within the cytoplasm
•  SOURCE LEAVES through plasmodesmatal connecBons
–  PreferenBally supply sink organs with which they between cells
have vascular connecBon 4.  Others
•  Flower or fruit nearest to them (directly above or
below them
1.  Facilitated diffusion
–  Basis for flower and fruit thinning 2.  AcBve transport across membranes

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Mechanism of assimilate transloca4on:

The Münch pressure flow hypothesis of assimilate transport from source to sink
Phloem Cells 1. Ac4ve loading at source increases
2. Water flows in from osmo4c pressure in the sieve elements
xylem to phloem; Turgor
pressure in phloem cells
increase

3. Pressure difference
formed between sieve
elements of source and
sink 4ssues

4. Assimilates moved from

high pressure area to low
pressure area

5. Phloem unloading reduces osmo4c pressure at the

sink, water moves back to xylem; turgor pressure in
Tutorvista.com (Campbell and Reece, 2008) phloem is decreased

Mechanism of Phloem Loading GMQ today, January 14, 2014

EnumeraBon (2 points each)
1. give 2 types of compounds that are translocated (sugars,
ionns/nutrients, amino acids)
2. Give the 2 vascular Bssues (xylem, phloem)
3. Theory that explains force that directs translocaBon
IdenBfy if source or sink (1 point each)
4. Fully expanded mature leaf
5. Unripe fruit
6. Young leaf
7. GerminaBng seeds
8. Flowers
Bonus: UPLB Library (3 points)
GMQ today, January 14, 2014

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Mineral Nutrition in plants

Plants are: Nutrient
MINERAL NUTRITION
ü  Capable of making all necessary
organic compounds from
•  any substance that can be metabolized
inorganic compounds and by an organism to give energy and build
elements in the environment 4ssue à growth and development
(autotrophic)
ü  Supplied with all the carbon, •  source of nourishment, especially a
hydrogen, and oxygen they could nourishing ingredient in a food
ever need (CO2, H2O)
ETM Ocampo •  providing nourishment
ü  Required to obtain all other
Crop Science 1 Lectures elements from the soil so in a
sense plants act as soil miners.

Func4ons of the Essen4al

Plant Nutrients CRITERIA OF ESSENTIALITY
Elements
• Categories 1.  If the nutrient is absent à the •  Structural
– Essen4al plant is unable to complete its life – important components of biomolecules (e.g.
cycle N, P, Ca, Mg, S)
– Beneficial
2.  The nutrient is a plant cons4tuent •  Cataly4c
or metabolite – as co-factor of enzymes (e.g. most
3.  The nutrient must act directly in micronutrients)
the metabolism of the plant •  Osmo4c
– regula4on of cellular hydra4on (e.g. K)

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Macroelements/ Microelements/ The essential nutrients- plants take up only INORGANIC

The EssenBal Nutrients Macronutrients Micronutrients nutrients
•  Macronutrients: Macronutrient Inorganic Form Micronutrient Inorganic Form

– Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, Required in relatively large Required in minute Nitrogen (N) NH4+ , NO3- Iron (Fe) Fe+2, Fe+3
quantities like one to 10 quantities like 0.1 mg per Phosphorus (P) H2PO4-, HPO4-2, Boron (B) BO-3
sulfur, magnesium, oxygen, PO4-3
milligram per gram of dry gram of dry matter
carbon,hydrogen matter Potassium (K) K+ Manganese (Mn) Mn+2

•  Micronutrients: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen Manganese, Boron, Calcium (Ca) Ca+2 Zinc (Zn) Zn+2

– Iron, boron, copper, zinc, manganese, Phosphorous, Potassium, Copper, Molybdenum, Magnesium (Mg) Mg+2 Copper (Cu) Cu+2

Calcium and Iron, Zinc and Molybdenum (Mo) MoO5-

molybdenum, chloride
Nitrogen, Sulphur and Chloride Sulfur (S) SO4-2
Chlorine (Cl) Cl-1

Carbon (C)
Hydrogen (H)
ConsBtuent of all organic molecules Plant nutrient Source
Air Water Soil
Oxygen (O) Carbon X

Beneficial Elements
Nitrogen (N) Component of proteins, enzymes, and nucleic acids Oxygen X X
Phosphorus (P) In nucleic acids, phyBn, coenzymes, adenylases; regulatory funcBon Hydrogen X
Potassium (K) OsmoregulaBon; enzyme acBvator, and protein component Macronutrients
Calcium (Ca) In pectates, and regulatory protein ; regulaBon of enzyme o  Elements which promote plant growth in Nitrogen X
Magnesium (Mg) Integral component of chlorophyll, Mg-ATP; acBvator of phosphorylaBon, Phosphorus X
RuBP carboxylase
many plant species but are not absolutely Potassium X
Sulfur (S) ConsBtuent of several coenzymes, vitamins and amino acids necessary for completion of the plant life Calcium X

Iron (Fe) Components of Fe- and Fe-S proteins, cytochromes, and ferredoxins cycle Magnesium X
Sulfur X
Copper (Cu) AcBvator of several oxidases and lignin synthesis
Micronutrients
Zinc (Zn) AcBvator of enzymes
Manganese (Mn) Enzyme acBvator and photosyntheBc evoluBon of oxygen (Hill reacBon)
o  Silicon, sodium, cobalt, and selenium Boron X
Chlorine X
Molybdenum (Mo) Enzyme component essenBal for nitrogenase in bacteria for N2-fixaBon Copper X
Boron (B) Complex with protein Iron X
Chlorine (Cl) AcBvator of photosystem II; Manganese X
Nickel (Ni) Integral component of urease enzyme Molybdenum X
Nickel X
Zinc X

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Effect of Soil pH on nutrient availability

Decline in Soil Fer4lity
•  Soil erosion
–  physical loss and displacement of the ferBle ü pH affects the
topsoil growth of plant
1.  Geological erosion roots and soil
2.  Wind erosion microbes
3.  Water-borne erosion
ü Root growth favors
4.  Accelerated erosion due to human acBvity a pH of 5.5 to 6.5
•  Crop removal
•  Conversion of nutrients to unavailable forms
–  FormaBon of insoluble forms
–  Microbial mediated transformaBons
–  VolaBlizaBon (especially nitrogen)
–  Leaching

NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES
•  Mineral nutrient deficiencies occur when the
concentration of a nutrient decreases below its
typical range
•  Deficiencies of specific nutrients lead to
specific visual, often characteristic, symptoms
reflective of the role of that nutrient in plant
metabolism
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
SYMPTOMS
q  Chlorosis (uniform or interveinal) or yellowing of
the leaves due to chlorophyll degradaBon
q  Necrosis (Bp, marginal, or interveinal) or death of
leaf Bssue
q  Lack of new growth, which may result in death of
terminal or axillary buds and leaves, dieback, or
resenng
q  Accumula4on of anthocyanin resulBng in reddish
coloraBon of leaf Bssues
q  Stunted leaf growth with green, off-green, or
yellow color

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

Phosphorus Absorbed as H2PO4-, HPO4-

NITROGEN
Visual Deficiency
Patterns of deficiency Symptoms
(phosphate)

Visual Deficiency
• Slow growth and
•  The location where a Symptoms
stunting.
deficiency reflects the • Slow growth and stunting.
mobility of a nutrient • Yellow-green color • Purplish coloration on
leaves. foliage of some plants.
•  Nutrients are
redistributed in the • "Firing" of tips and • Dark green coloration with
margins of leaves; tips of leaves dying.
phloem

yellowing begins with
• Delayed maturity.
mature leaves.
•  Old leaves = mobile
• Poor fruit or seed
•  Young = immobile development

Magnesium, Mg ++
POTASSIUM Calcium (Ca++)
Absorbed as K+ VISUAL DEFICIENCY
Visual Deficiency Symptoms
SYMPTOMS
Tip and marginal "burn" starting on mature • Chlorosis of the fully
leaves. Lower leaves turn yellow. expanded leaves

Weak stalks and plants lodge easily.
• Puckering of leaves

Small fruits or shriveled seeds. Visual Deficiency Symptoms

Slow growth.
Tip burn" of young leaves — celery, lettuce,
cabbage.

Growing point dieback. Death of growing points
(terminal buds). Root tips are also affected.

Stunted root growth.

Premature shedding of blossoms and buds.
Weakened stems.

http://4e.plantphys.net/article.php?ch=3&id=289

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Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

How to address nutrient

deficiency?

Mg N K P normal

Climate

Step 1:
Establish an
attainable yield
level – the crop’s
total needs

N P K
Inorganic
fertilizer
Irr

Cr

Step 3:
ig

op
M

at

Fill deficit
an

io

Step 2:
re
n
ur

between total
sid
wa

Effectively use
e

ue
te

needs and
r

existing nutrients
P
indigenous
Soil K N supply
P
Indigenous K
P
K N
N
nutrient supply

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