Name: Mineral Nutrition in Plants
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 18 min 21 s
Description: Do only humans need minerals in their diet? No, even plants require different types of minerals. These minerals are grouped as macro and micro-nutrients.

Question

List four features outlining the importance of minerals in plant life.

Accepted Answer

The inorganic substances naturally occurring in the rocks and soil are called the minerals. Plants absorb minerals through root by passive or active absorption. The absorbed elements are then transferred from the root to the xylem. The utilisation of minerals for their growth and development is called mineral nutrition. The following features of minerals are of importance in plant life:

1. Structural components of plant: Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are found as part of structure of all biologically important molecules, including lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and proteins. Nitrogen is a part of proteins, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll.

2. Catalytic components: The second major role of mineral elements such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, chlorine, sodium, and potassium is to serve as cofactors of enzymes in several physio-chemical reactions in plants.

3. Osmotic potential: The osmotic potential of plant cells depends on the concentration of mineral salts and organic compounds present in the cell sap. The osmotic potential is significant for water absorption and maintenance of turgidity of the cell.

4. Permeability of cell membrane: Minerals influence the absorption of water by cells and affect the degree of permeability of cell membranes. For example sodium increases membrane permeability, whereas calcium decreases membrane permeability.

List four features outlining the importance of minerals in plant life.

Important Questions on Transport of Food and Minerals in Plants

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