A pictorial description of functions and deficiency symptoms of Fe, Mn, Cu, and B in plants.

1. Soil Fertility
Management
Mr. Aditya Kumar Verma
1

2. Topics for Discussion!
• Functions and Deficiency Symptoms of:
• Iron
• Manganese
• Copper
• Boron
2

3. Iron
(Fe2+, Fe3+)
Functions of Iron in Plants:
• Iron helps in the formation of chlorophyll.
• Iron is a structural component of cytochromes,
hemes, hematin, ferrichrome, and
leghemoglobin which are involved in oxidation-
reduction in respiration and photosynthesis.
• Activates several enzymes.
Concentration in
Mature Leaf Tissue:
100-500 mg/Kg
3

4. Iron
(Fe2+, Fe3+)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
• Interveinal chlorosis of younger leaves. On
severe deficiency leaves become pale white.
• Reddish-brown necrotic spots along the leaf
margins of young shoots.
Deficiency Symptoms
4

5. Iron
(Fe2+, Fe3+)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
5

6. Iron
(Fe2+, Fe3+)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
6

7. Iron
(Fe2+, Fe3+)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
7

8. Manganese
(Mn2+)
Functions of Manganese in Plants:
• Involved in oxidation-reduction reactions and
electron transport.
• Directly or indirectly involved in chloroplast
formation.
• Activates large number of enzymes and acts as
a co-factor and catalyzes most of the enzymes.
• Helps in movement of Iron.
Concentration in
Mature Leaf Tissue:
20-300 PPM
8

9. Manganese
(Mn2+)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
• Interveinal chlorosis described as grey-speck
of oat, marsh spot of pea, speckled yellow
of sugar beet, etc.
• Root and shoot growth is severely affected.
Deficiency Symptoms
9

10. Manganese
(Mn2+)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
10

11. Manganese
(Mn2+)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
11

12. Manganese
(Mn2+)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
12
Marsh Spot of Pea
Speckled Yellow of Sugarbeet

13. Copper
(Cu2+)
Functions of Copper in Plants:
• It acts as electron carriers in enzymes which
bring about oxidation-reduction reaction in
plants.
• Helps in utilization of iron in chlorophyll
synthesis.
• Play a role in the biosynthesis and activity of
ethylene in ripening fruit.
• Promote the formation of Vitamin-A in plants.
• Influences pollen formation and fertilization.
Concentration in
Mature Leaf Tissue:
5 – 30 PPM
13

14. Copper
(Cu2+)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
• Young leaves become yellow (chlorosis),
twisted and stunted.
• As the deficiency progresses, young leaves
turn pale and older leaves die back.
• Under severe deficiency, leaf tips and edges
become necrotic.
• Plants become susceptible to lodging,
wilting and disease incidence.
• Flower development does not take place in
severe deficiency.
Deficiency Symptoms
14

15. Copper
(Cu2+)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
15

16. Copper
(Cu2+)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
16

17. Copper
(Cu2+)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
17

18. Boron
(H2BO3
-,
HBO3
2-)
Functions of Boron in Plants:
• Primary function of B in plants is related to cell
wall formation and reproductive tissue.
• Essential for cell division.
• Necessary for proper pollination and fruit or
seed setting.
• Influences carbohydrates, N and Ca-
metabolism.
• Necessary for the translocation of sugars,
starches, phosphorus, etc.
• Acts as a regulator of K/Ca ratio in plant.
• Increases the solubility and mobility of Ca in
plant.
Concentration in
Mature Leaf Tissue:
10 – 20 PPM
18

19. Boron
(H2BO3
-,
HBO3
2-)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
• Chlorotic young leaves and death of
terminal bud.
• Leaves may develop dark brown, irregular
lesions that progresses to necrosis of leaves
in severe cases.
• Shortening of internodes of young shoots of
fruit trees.
• Heart rot of sugarbeet
• Browning or hollow stem of cauliflower
• Top sickness of tobacco
• Hen and Chicken disorder in grapes
Deficiency Symptoms
19

20. Boron
(H2BO3
-,
HBO3
2-)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
20
Heart Rot of Sugar beet
Softer tissue in the core of the roots develops water-soaked areas,
become necrotic and decays.

21. Boron
(H2BO3
-,
HBO3
2-)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
21
Browning or Hollow Stem of Cauliflower
Interior of the stem, particularly the pith, develops water-soaked
areas which later turn brown, necrotic and hollowed, forming large
cavity

22. Boron
(H2BO3
-,
HBO3
2-)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
22
Top Sickness of Tobacco
Youngest set of leaves fail to expand and appear pale green which
later turn necrotic. Terminal bud dies eventually.

23. Boron
(H2BO3
-,
HBO3
2-)
Deficiency:
Younger Leaves
23
Hen and Chicken Disorder in Grapes