Mineral NutritionStudied by soil-free culture in nutrient solutions:

Mineral NutritionSoil-free culture• Sand culture• Hydroponics: immerse roots in nutrient solution• Slanted film maintains [nutrients] & O2

• Aeroponics sprays nutrient solution on roots

Mineral NutritionMacronutrients• CHOPKNS

Mineral NutritionMacronutrients• CHOPKNS• CHOPNS make biopolymers

Mineral NutritionMacronutrients• CHOPNS make biopolymers• N deficiency • mobile in plant, so shows first in old leaves

Mineral NutritionMacronutrients• CHOPNS make biopolymers• P deficiency • mobile in plant, so shows first in old leaves

Mineral NutritionMacronutrients• CHOPNS make biopolymers• S deficiency • mobile in plant, so shows first in old leaves

Mineral NutritionMacronutrients• CHOPKNS• CHOPNS make biopolymers• K makes turgor, enzyme cofactor• mobile in plant, so shows first in old leaves

Mineral NutritionMacronutrients• CHOPKNS• Ca: signaling, middle lamella, cofactor• immobile in plant, so shows first in young leaves

Mineral NutritionMacronutrients• Ca: signaling, middle lamella, cofactor• Fe: cofactor• immobile in plant, so shows first in young leaves

Mineral NutritionMacronutrients• Ca: signaling, middle lamella, cofactor• Fe: cofactor• Mg: cofactor• mobile in plant, so shows first in old leaves

Mineral NutritionMacronutrients: CHOPKNSCaFeMg• Ca: signaling, middle lamella, cofactor• Fe: cofactor• Mg: cofactor• mobile in plant, so shows first in old leaves

Mineral NutritionMacronutrients: CHOPKNSCaFeMgBNaCl• Ca: signaling, middle lamella, cofactor• Fe: cofactor• Mg: cofactor• mobile in plant, so shows first in old leaves

Mineral NutritionMicronutrients: BNaCl• B: cell elongation. NA metabolism• immobile in plant, so shows first in young leaves

Mineral NutritionMicronutrients: BNaCl• B: cell elongation. NA metabolism• Na: PEP regeneration in C4, K substitute• mobile in plant, so shows first in old leaves

Mineral NutritionMicronutrients: BNaCl• B: cell elongation. NA metabolism• Na: PEP regenerationin C4, K substitute• Cl: water-splitting, osmotic balance• mobile in plant, so shows first in old leaves

Mineral NutritionMicronutrients: BNaCl others include Cu, Zn, Mn• B: cell elongation. NA metabolism• Na: PEP regeneration, K substitute• Cl: water-splitting, osmotic balance• Cu: cofactor• immobile in plant, so shows first in young leaves

Mineral NutritionCommercial fertilizers mainly supply NPK

Plant food• 2.6% ammoniacal nitrogen • 4.4% nitrate nitrogen• 9% phosphorus• 5% potassium• calcium (2%)• magnesium (0.5%)• sulfur (0.05%)• boron (0.02%)• chlorine (0.1%)• cobalt (0.0015%)• copper (0.05%)• iron (0.1%)• manganese (0.05%)• molybdenum (0.0009%)• nickel (0.0001%)• sodium (0.10%) • zinc (0.05%)

Mineral NutritionSoil nutrients•Amounts & availability varyPSU extension Text

Mineral NutritionSoil nutrients•Amounts & availability vary•Many are immobile, eg P, Fe

Mineral NutritionSoil nutrients• Amounts & availability vary• Many are immobile, eg P, Fe• Mobile nutrients come with soil H2O

Mineral NutritionSoil nutrients• Amounts & availability vary• Many are immobile, eg P, Fe• Mobile nutrients come with soil H2O• Immobiles must be “mined”• Root hairs get close

Mineral NutritionImmobile nutrients must be “mined”• Root hairs get close• Mycorrhizae get closer

Mineral NutritionImmobile nutrients must be mined• Root hairs get close• Mycorrhizae get closer

Solubility varies w pH

Mineral Nutrition•Solubility varies w pH•5.5 is best compromise

Mineral NutritionSolubility varies w pH•5.5 is best compromise•Plants alter pH @ roots to

aid uptake

Mineral NutritionNutrients in soil•Plants alter pH @ roots to aid uptake• Also use symbionts• Mycorrhizal fungi help: especially with P

Mineral NutritionAlso use symbionts•Mycorrhizal fungi help: especially with P• P travels poorly: fungal hyphae are longer & thinner

Mineral NutritionAlso use symbionts•Mycorrhizal fungi help: especially with P• P travels poorly: fungal hyphae are longer & thinner• Fungi give plants nutrients

Mineral NutritionAlso use symbionts•Mycorrhizal fungi help: especially with P• P travels poorly: fungal hyphae are longer & thinner• Fungi give plants nutrients• Plants feed them sugar

Mineral NutritionAlso use symbionts•Mycorrhizal fungi help: especially with P• P travels poorly: fungal hyphae are longer & thinner• Fungi give plants nutrients• Plants feed them sugar

• Ectomycorrhizae surround root: only trees, esp. conifers

Mineral NutritionEctomycorrhizae surround root: only trees, esp. conifers• release nutrients into apoplast to be taken up by roots

Mineral NutritionEctomycorrhizae surround root: trees•release nutrients into apoplast to be taken up by rootsEndomycorrhizae invade root cells: Vesicular/Arbuscular• Most angiosperms, especially in nutrient-poor soils