Calcium (Ca) in plants
Calcium is the most essential mineral present in meristematic tissues and in differentiating tissues.
The role of calcium in plants is as follows:
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Calcium is an essential part of middle lamella and involved in movement of substances through cell membranes.
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Require for the formation of bipolar spindle during cell division.
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Calcium is essential element for the growth of shoot and root tips.
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It reduces the toxicity of aluminum and manganese in plant roots.
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It regulates cellular metabolism.
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Also require for enzymatic activity
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It is absorbed in the form of Ca++ from the soil.
Deficiency symptoms of Calcium:
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Calcium mobility in plants is limited.
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There major symptoms observed during its deficiency: stunted growth and young parts of plants example: root tips, shoot apices and marginal regions of young leaves begin to die.
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Inhibition of bud growth, as terminal bud often found dead
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Young leaves often appear to be hooked at tip
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Tips and margins of leaves are dried up and dead
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Roots can turn rot or dead
