Mineral nutrition in plants

Plants absorb mineral ions from the soil through root hair cells by either diffusion down the
concentration gradient or active transport against the concentration using energy from
respiration. Major mineral ions and their roles in plants are given in the following table.

Mineral ions Functions Deficiency symptoms

Nitrates These are used to make amino acids and therefore The older leaves turn yellow
proteins such as enzymes, hormones and many and growth is stunted.
other compounds such as DNA in plants.
Calcium Calcium ions in the middle lamella of plant cell The growing points die back
walls combine with pectin to make the calcium and the young leaves are
pectate holding plant cells together. It is also yellow and crinkly.
important in the permeability of membranes.
Phosphate It is needed to make DNA and many other Poor root growth and
compounds including part of cell membrane. younger leaves turn purple.
Potassium It is needed for enzymes of respiration and Leaves turn yellow with
photosynthesis to work. dead spots.
Magnesium These are needed to produce the green pigment Yellow areas develop on the
chlorophyll which traps the light needed for older leaves and growth
photosynthesis. It is also needed for the activation slows down.
of some plant enzymes and the synthesis of
nucleic acids.

Water culture experiments

An investigation into the effect of mineral ions on the growth of plant seedlings.

C = Compare or Change or a range of values.

O = Organisms of same species / age / gender / body mass / height
R = Replication or repetition (more than three times and calculate an average)
M = Measurements (rate/ Change in mass / Change in height etc.)
S = Same (all other abiotic factors such as light intensity, temperature, co2
concentration, oxygen, pH etc.)

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 The diagram below shows an apparatus used to find the effect of mineral ions on the
growth and development of seedlings of oat (a cercal plant).

In this experiment a series of similar sets of apparatus was used, each lacking a different
mineral ion. Each was placed in uniform light and kept at 20 °C.
The development of the seedlings was measured by recording the height of each plant, the
colour of its leaves and how many leaves it produced over a three-week period.
The experiment was repeated three more times and an average was calculated.
Hence, all other factors such as light intensity, temperature, concentration and volume of
mineral ions solution, oxygen etc. were kept constant.

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