Boron in Plants:
Leaves and seeds require boron.
Absorbed as BO33– or B4O72–.
Maintains balance between sugar and starch.
Facilitates the translocation of sugar and carbohydrates.
It is important in pollination and seed reproduction.
Required for uptake and utilization of Ca2+, pollen germination, membrane functioning, cell elongation, cell differentiation and translocation of carbohydrates.
Responsible for nitrogen metabolism, hormone and fat metabolism.
Deficiency symptoms of Boron in plants:
-
Deficiency symptoms of Boron vary between crop species and generally occurs in the growing points, flowers and fruits
-
Causes brown heart-rot disease in beetroots; skin discoloring, cracking in apple; yellowing and drying of leaves in sugar beet; hen and chick symptom in grape; brown stem cracks in celery
-
Leaves become distorted; causes leaf to curl and become brittle; death of the shoot tip
-
Stunted growth of plant; Crop yield suffers
-
Premature fall of fruits and flowers, as flowers and fruits fail to develop
-
Root tip fails to elongate normally; stunted root growth; rotting and hollowing of roots
