Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University

FSC 508- Nutrition of Fruit Crops Assignment

Topic- Methods of plant nutrient uptake

Submitted to- Dr. Sutanu Majhi

Submitted by- 1) Shubhadeep Roy 2) Bijay Tudu
3) Kumari Pushpalata

Introduction

Plant growth and survival depend on the availability of essential

nutrients in the soil. These nutrients are generally taken up by the roots
and transported to the rest of the plant to support growth and perform
various metabolic activities. Dynamic balance between supply and
demand majorly controls the uptake of nutrients by plants.

Altogether plants require 13 different types of nutrients. Among them

Ca,Mg,N,P,Kand S are the six essential nutrients which are required in
high quantities. These macronutrients are involved in different
functions including:

1) Rapid growth

2) provide strength to plants

3) Essential for photosynthesis

4) Improving the quality of fruits

5) Reduction in diseases of plants

6)Improves root growth and seed production

7) For building proteins and other biomolecules

Uptake of mineral nutrition
Mineral uptake is the natural process in which all the essential minerals
enter the plant cellular material, typically following the same pathway
as water. The uptake of mineral nutrients occurs at both the roots and
leaves.

The process of uptake or transport of mineral nutrients occurs is carried

out in 2 different ways:-

1) Passive absorption- It is the absorption of minerals /nutrients

without the direct expenditure of metabolic energy.

Diffusion, mass flow theory, osmosis, donnan effect and equilibrium

theory and ion exchange theory falls under this category.

2) Active absorption- It is the absorption of nutrients with the direct

expenditure of metabolic energy. During the active absorption of
nutrients, ions from the outer space of cell move into the inner space
and it generally occurs against the concentration gradient. Hence it
requires metabolic energy and this energy is obtained from the plant
cell's metabolism either directly or indirectly.

All the nutrients can't be transported passively in the roots as the

concentration is low in the soil and moreover they are present as a
charged particle, which can't cross the cell membrane. These are
actively transported through the roots using energy stored as ATP.

Carrier ion theory, cytochrome pump hypothesis falls under this

category.

But, according to plant physiologists there are principally 3

mechanisms of plant nutrient uptake namely root interception, mass
flow hypothesis and diffusion.
Root interception is the extension (growth) of plant roots into new soil
areas where there are untapped supplies of nutrients in the soil
solution. All these 3 processes mentioned above are said to be in
constant operation during growth.

Each mechanism in supplying nutrients to the root surface for

absorption by the root varies with the chemical properties of each
element. The importance of root interception mechanism for ion
absorption is enhanced by the growth of new roots throughout the soil
mass and probably also by mycorrhizal infections.

As the root system develops and exploits the soil more completely, soil
solution and soil surfaces retaining adsorbed ions are exposed to the
root mass and absorption of these ions by the contact exchange
phenomenon is accomplished.

The exact mechanisms for ion absorption into the root cells are not well
understood. The cell walls are porous and the soil solution can move
through some or all of the soil solution and cell walls causing intimate
contact of the soil solution with the outer membranes of the cells.

Besides these plants absorb nutrients through stomatal opening.

Carbon enters almost completely through the stomata as CO2 with the
release of O2 produced during photosynthesis in gaseous form.
Hydrogen as a part of water molecules is absorbed through stomata
but the rate is very much lower as compared to absorption through
roots.

1) Passive absorption
a) Diffusion- The movement by normal dispersion of nutrient from a
higher concentration through soil water to areas of lower concentration
of that nutrient.

It operates when an ion moves from an area of high concentration to

one of low concentration by random thermal motion. As plant roots
absorb nutrients from the surrounding soil solution, a diffusion gradient
is set up. A high plant requirement or a high root "absorbing power"
results in a strong sink or a high diffusion gradient favouring ion
transport.

There are 3 soil factors mainly which influence the movement of

nutrient ions into the root through diffusion mechanism namely
diffusion coefficient, concentration of the nutrient in the soil solution
and the buffering capacity of the solid phase of the soil for the nutrient
in the soil pollution phase.

The effective diffusion coefficient (De) for the diffusion of an ion in the
soil, is influenced by volumetric water percentage Îs, tortuosity factor
(zigzag path) denoted by f and buffering capacity b.

Mathematically,

De= Dw Îs. 1/f. 1/b

where Dw is the diffusion coefficient for a particular nutrient in water.

Raising Îs also reduces tortuosity, which increases diffusion. Buffering

capacity usually decreases as nutrient levels in the soil are raised.
Reduction in buffering capacity is associated with the rise in the rate of
diffusion.
b) Mass flow theory- The most important of the nutrient uptake
mechanisms quantity wise, is the movement of plant nutrients in
flowing soil solution.This theory was first proposed by German plant
physiologist Ernst Munch in the year 1930. Movement of ions in the soil
solution to the surfaces of roots is an important factor in satisfying the
nutrient requirement of plants. This movement is accomplished largely
by mass flow and diffusion.

Mass flow is a convective process in which plant nutrient ions and other
dissolved substances are transported in the flow of water to the root
due to transpirational water uptake by the plant. Some mass flow can
also occur due to evaporation and percolation of soil water.

c) Osmosis- A fundamental biological process that plays a crucial role in

plant nutrient uptake and overall plant health.

It is a passive process of water movement from a high concentration to

a low concentration across a semipermeable membrane. This
movement helps to regulate the water balance within the cells and also
helps in the absorption of essential nutrients and minerals from the
soil.

The roots act as conduit for the uptake. The root cells are surrounded
by a selectively permeable membrane, which regulates the movement
of water and solutes (minerals/nutrients) in and out of the cell. The
concentration of the solutes in the soil is generally higher than in the
root cells and so water moves in the root cells via osmosis. This inturm
increases the pressure in the root cells, creating what is known as root
pressure. Root pressure drives the uptake of nutrients in the root cells,
this process is facilitated by the increased pressure within the root cells
which helps to push the nutrients into the cells.
d) Donnan effect and equilibrium theory- These two are important
concepts in understanding plant nutrient uptake.

Donnan effect refers to the unequal distribution of ions across a

semipermeable membrane, resulting in an electrical potential
difference between two solutions separated by the membrane. This
effect is caused by the fact that some ions are more likely to pass
through the membrane than others, and the unequal distribution of
ions leads to the development of a charge on either side of the
membrane.

Equilibrium theory on the other hand states that in a closed system, the
concentration of ions will reach a state of balance where the rate of
diffusion of ions into and out of the system is equal. In plants this
theory is applied to the nutrient uptake from the soil. The roots of the
plant form a semipermeable membrane and the concentration of ions
in the soil and in the root cells will reach an equilibrium based on the
ion permeability of the root membrane and the concentration gradient
between two solutions.

The Donnan effect and equilibrium theory explain why some ions are
more easily absorbed than the others by the plant roots. The
distribution and permeability of ions across the root membrane can be
influenced by various factors, including presence of other ions, the
chemical and physical properties of the membrane and the presence of
transport proteins.

Understanding this concept is crucial for predicting and controlling the

uptake of nutrients by plants, which is important for both agriculture
and horticulture.
e) Ion exchange theory- In ion exchange theory , the ions are adsorbed
on the surface of the roots can exchange with the ions of the same
charge from the soil.

Example- Hydrogen ions are adsorbed on the surface of the root cells
can be exchanged with potassium ions in the soil.

Two theories have been proposed to explain the mechanism of ion-

exchange:-

Contact exchange theory

Carbonic acid exchange theory

Contact exchange theory:

-Based on this theory,the ions adsorbed on the surface of root cells and
clay particles are in continuous oscillation.

When the roots and clay particles are in close contact with each
other,the oscillation radius of ions on the clay particles may overlap
with ions adsorbed on the root cells.

When these oscillation radii overlap,there is chance of spontaneous

exchange of ions between clay particles and root surface.

Carbonic acid exchange theory:-

Based on this theory,the carbon dioxide produced in the roots cells due
to respiration combines with water to form carbonic acid.
This acid immediately dissociates into hydrogen ions and Bicarbonate
ions respectively.

The hydrogen ions which are exchanged with cations on clay particles.

2) Active absorption
a) Carrier ion theory:According to this theory, the ion transport
process is carried out by means of carriers, which may be organic
molecules or vesicles. This theory explains that the plasma membrane
is impermeable to free ions. The carrier combines with the ions to form
carrier ion complex, which can move across the membrane. On the
inner surface of the membrane, this complex breaks releasing ions into
the cell while the carrier goes back to the outer surface to pick fresh
ions. Here, the metabolic energy is required for the formation of carrier
ion complex, it's transport, breakdown of complex, regeneration of
carrier and movement of carrier molecules back.

b) Cytochrome pump theory- Lundegardh and Burstrom (1933) claimed

that a quantitative relationship exists between anion absorption and
respiration. When a plant is transferred from water to salt solution, the
rate of respiration will increase. This increase in respiration is called salt
respiration. The actual transport of anions occurs through a cytochrome
system.

1. Dehydrogenase reactions on the inner side of the membrane give rise

to protons (H+) and electrons(e-).
2. The electron travels over the cytochrome chain towards outside of
the membrane, so that the Fe of the cytochrome becomes reduced
(Fe2+) on the outer surface and oxidised (Fe3+) on the inner surface.

3. On the outer surface, the reduced cytochrome is oxidised by oxygen

releasing the electron (e-) and taking the anion (A-).

4. The electron thus released unites with H+ and O to form water.

5. The anion (A-) travels over the cytochrome chain towards inside.

6. On the inner surface, the oxidised cytochrome becomes reduced by

taking an electron produced through the dehydrogenase reactions and
the anion (A-) is released.

7. As a result of anion absorption, a cation (M+) moves passively from

outside to inside to balance the anion.
Essential nutrients for plant growth and their principal forms of uptake :-

Nutrient Chemical Symbol Principal forms for uptake

Carbon C CO2
Hydrogen H H2O
Oxygen O H2O, O2
Nitrogen N NH+4, NO-3
Phosphorus P H2PO-4, HPO2-4
Potassium K K+
Calcium Ca Ca2+
Magnesium Mg Mg2+
Sulfur S SO2-4, SO2
Iron Fe Fe2+, Fe3+
Manganese Mn Mn2+
Boron B H3BO3
Zinc Zn Zn2+
Copper Cu Cu2+
Molybdenum Mo MoO2-4
Chlorine Cl Cl-

Conclusion-
In conclusion, plants have evolved several methods to obtain the
nutrients they need for growth and survival. Root
absorption/interception is the most common method but the other
methods mentioned in this assignment also play important roles in
plant nutrient uptake.

These processes are essential for plant growth and are critical to the
food chain and overall health of the planet.

References-
1) All the diagrams have been taken from sites toppr and byjus.
2)