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Physiology and Molecular Biology of Stress ... - KHAM PHA MOI

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Nutrient <strong>Stress</strong><br />

199<br />

Table 9 . Toxic levels <strong>of</strong> manganese in the shoots <strong>of</strong> cer tain crop plants*<br />

Plant<br />

Maize 200<br />

Pigeonpea 300<br />

Soyabean 600<br />

Cotton 750<br />

Sweet potato 1380<br />

Sunflower 5300<br />

*Adapted from Edwards <strong>and</strong> Asher (1982).<br />

Manganese content (ppm)<br />

Normally manganese toxicity shows chlorosis in young leaves. This may be<br />

due to Mn 2+ induced iron deficiency since Fe 2+ deficiency also shows chlorosis in<br />

young leaves. In many plants the toxicity symptoms occur as interveinal chlorosis <strong>and</strong><br />

necrosis. These symptoms are associated with deformation <strong>of</strong> young leaves <strong>and</strong> commonly<br />

known as “crinkle leaf”.<br />

Although many soils contain adequate levels <strong>of</strong> manganese, the application<br />

<strong>of</strong> Mn to calcareous peat soils is recommended. In these soils application <strong>of</strong> Mn fertilizers<br />

like MnSO 4<br />

is usually applied.<br />

10. ZINC<br />

Zinc is the last element in the first transition series with completely filled ‘d’ orbitals.<br />

The zinc content <strong>of</strong> most <strong>of</strong> the soils is in the range <strong>of</strong> about 10-30 ppm. Plants take up<br />

zinc mainly as a divalent cation (Zn 2+ ).<br />

The biochemical functions <strong>of</strong> zinc are based on its strong tendencies to form<br />

tetrahedral complexes with N, O 2<br />

<strong>and</strong> S lig<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> plays structural <strong>and</strong> functional role<br />

in enzyme reactions. Zinc is an activator <strong>of</strong> several enzymes, play an important role in<br />

DNA <strong>and</strong> RNA metabolism, protein synthesis, auxin metabolism <strong>and</strong> membrane integrity.<br />

Carbonic anhydrase, alcohol dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, alkaline<br />

phosphatase, phospholipase <strong>and</strong> carboxy peptidase are important enzymes where zinc<br />

is an integral part <strong>of</strong> enzyme structure. Zinc activates a number <strong>of</strong> enzymes like dehydrogenases,<br />

aldolases <strong>and</strong> isomerases. Zinc plays an important role in DNA replication,<br />

transcription <strong>and</strong> regulation <strong>of</strong> gene expression (Coleman, 1992, Vallee <strong>and</strong> Falchuk,<br />

1993).<br />

Zinc deficiency decreases protein synthesis <strong>and</strong> results in the accumulation<br />

<strong>of</strong> aminoacids <strong>and</strong> amides. Further, zinc is essential for the activity <strong>of</strong> RNA polymerase<br />

<strong>and</strong> for the structural integrity <strong>of</strong> ribosomes. The ribosomes become unstable under

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