Mineral Nutrition — BIOLOGY STD 11 Science — Question
Gujarat BoardEnglish MediumSTD 11 ScienceBIOLOGYMineral Nutrition5 Marks
Question
What are main essential elements and what is their role in plants?
✓
Answer
Macro and Micro-nutrients and their roles:
i. Nitrogen: This is the mineral element required by plants in the greatest amount. It is absorbed mainly as $NO _3^{-}$ though some are also taken up as $NO ^{2-}$ or $NH _4^{+}$Nitrogen is required by all parts of a plant, particularly the meristematic tissues and the metabolically active cells. Nitrogen is one of the major constituents of proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins and hormones.
ii. Phosphorus: Phosphorus is absorbed by the plants from soil in the form of phosphate ions (either as $H _2 PO$ or HPO). Phosphorus is a constituent of cell membranes, certain proteins, all nucleic acids and nucleotides, and is required for all phosphorylation reactions.
iii. Potassium: It is absorbed as potassium ion $\left( K ^{+}\right)$. In plants, this is required in more abundant quantities in the meristematic tissues, buds, leaves and root tips. Potassium helps to maintain an anion-cation balance in cells and is involved in protein synthesis, opening and closing of stomata, activation of enzymes and in the maintenance of the turgidity of cells.
iv. Calcium: Plant absorbs calcium from the soil in the form of calcium ions $\left( Ca ^{2+}\right)$. Calcium is required by meristematic and differentiating tissues. During cell division it is used in the synthesis of cell wall, particularly as calcium pectate in the middle lamella. It is also needed during the formation of mitotic spindle. It accumulates in older leaves. It is involved in the normal functioning of the cell membranes. It activates certain enzymes and plays an important role in regulating metabolic activities.
v. Magnesium: It is absorbed by plants in the form of divalent $Mg ^{2+}$. It activates the enzymes of respiration, photosynthesis and are involved in the synthesis of DNA and RNA. Magnesium is a constituent of the ring structure of chlorophyll and helps to maintain the ribosome structure.
vi. Sulphur: Plants obtain sulphur in the form of sulphate (SO). Sulphur is present in two amino acids - cysteine and methionine and is the main constituent of several coenzymes, vitamins (thiamine, biotin, Coenzyme A) and ferredoxin.
vii. Iron: Plants obtain iron in the form of fernic ions $\left( Fe ^{3+}\right)$. It is required in larger amounts in comparison to other micronutrients. It is an important constituent of proteins involved in the transfer of electrons like ferredoxin and cytochromes. It is reversibly oxidised from $Fe ^{2+}$ to $Fe ^{3+}$ during electron transfer. It activates catalase enzyme, and is essential for the formation of chlorophyll.
viii. Manganese: It is absorbed in the form of manganous ions $\left( Mn ^{2+}\right)$. It activates many enzymes involved in photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogen metabolism. The best defined function of manganese is in the splitting of water to liberate oxygen during photosynthesis.
ix. Zinc: Plants obtain zinc as $Zn ^{2+}$ ions. It activates various enzymes, especially carboxylases. It is also needed in the synthesis of auxin.
x. Copper: It is absorbed as cupric ions $\left( Cu ^{2+}\right)$. It is essential for the overall metabolism in plants. Like iron, it is associated with certain enzymes involved in redox reactions and is reversibly oxidised from $Cu ^{+}$to $Cup ^{2+}$.
xi. Boron: It is absorbed as BO or $B _4 O$. Boron is required for uptake and utilization of $Ca ^{2+}$, membrane functioning, pollen germination, cell elongation, cell differentiation and carbohydrate translocation.
xii. Molybdenum: Plants obtain it in the form of molybdate ions (MoO). It is a component of several enzymes, including nitrogenase and nitrate reductase both of which participate in nitrogen metabolism.
xiii. Chlorine: It is absorbed in the form of chloride anion ( $Cl ^{-}$). Along with $Na ^{+}$and $K ^{+}$, it helps in determining the solute concentration and the anioncation balance in cells. It is essential for the water-splitting reaction in photosynthesis, a reaction that leads to oxygen evolution.
Need a full question paper?
Generate a complete, print-ready paper with questions like this in minutes — across 16+ boards, with answer keys.