Copper for Plants: Stress Resistance
Copper (= Cuprum) (Cu)
For the plant – resistance to all adverse factors.
The physiological role of copper in the plant organism is closely related to its participation in enzymatic processes directly as a catalyst or as part of copper-containing enzymes: it enhances the intensity of respiration, catalyzes the oxidation of ascorbic acid, ensures the assimilation of nitrate nitrogen and the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. Copper is also needed by plants for the formation of chlorophyll, participates in the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates.
Copper participates in the regulation of the hormonal balance of plants: due to its regulatory effect on the content of phenolic growth inhibitors, copper increases the resistance of plants to lodging. It also increases drought, frost, and heat resistance.
In the plant organism, copper is part of many oxidases, plastocyanins, ceruloplasmin, and regulates most redox processes.
In the plant organism, copper is part of many oxidases, plastocyanins, ceruloplasmin, and regulates most redox processes.
The copper content in plants ranges from 0.0001 to 0.05% (by weight) and depends on the plant species and the copper content in the soil. Some vegetables and fruits contain 30–230 mg of copper.
In case of copper deficiency, plants experience stunted growth and flowering, chlorosis, loss of turgor, and wilting. In cereals, acute copper deficiency leads to white tips on leaves and poor ear development; in fruit plants, the apex dries out, and plants may become infertile. Spraying rose stems and young apple trees with a copper sulfate solution increases their frost resistance.
In case of excess copper in the soil, the growth of California poppy decreases by 50%, and the color of its flowers becomes bluish-gray; in pink hollyhock, leaves become abnormally dissected, and flower petals turn blue or even black; in campion, stems acquire a purplish hue.
Plants that contain alkaloids selectively accumulate copper.
Copper hyperaccumulator plants include:
• Becium homblei (De Wild.) Duvign. & Plancke, Lamiaceae (herb, ash content – 1.0%);
• Quercus macrocarpa Michx., Fagaceae (wood, content in 1 kg – 200 g of copper);
• Dryobalanops aromatica Coleb., Dipterocarpaceae (oil, used to obtain camphor, has a greenish color due to high copper content).
• Becium homblei (De Wild.) Duvign. & Plancke, Lamiaceae (herb, ash content – 1.0%);
• Quercus macrocarpa Michx., Fagaceae (wood, content in 1 kg – 200 g of copper);
• Dryobalanops aromatica Coleb., Dipterocarpaceae (oil, used to obtain camphor, has a greenish color due to high copper content).
Medicinal plants containing copper:
• Althaea officinalis L., Malvaceae (roots);
• Cichorium intybus L., Asteraceae (roots);
• Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch., Rosaceae (rhizome with roots);
• Rubia tinctorum L., Rubiaceae (rhizome with roots);
• Polygonum hydropiper L., Polygonaceae (herb);
• Gnaphalium uliginosum L., Asteraceae (herb);
• Urtica dioica L., Urticaceae (leaves);
• Tussilago farfara L., Asteraceae (leaves);
• Mentha piperita L., Lamiaceae (leaves);
• Plantago major L., Plantaginaceae (leaves);
• Vaccinium vitis–idaea L., Ericaceae (leaves, fruits);
• Hippophaё rhamnoides L., Elaeagnaceae (fruits, leaves);
• Rubus caesius L., Rosaceae (fruits – 0.064–1.526 mg%);
• Rubus idaeus L., Rosaceae (dried fruits – 1.397 mg%);
• Ribes nigrum L., Grossulariaceae (dried fruits – 1.191 mg%);
• Viburnum opulus L., Сarifoliaceae (dried fruits – 0.839 mg%);
• Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ericaceae (dried fruits – 0.898 mg%);
• Crataegus L., Rosaceae (fruits – 0.001–0.01 mg%);
• Sorbus aucuparia L., Rosaceae (fruits – 0.001 mg%);
• Rosa L., Rosaceae (fruits – 0.002–0.04 mg%).
• Althaea officinalis L., Malvaceae (roots);
• Cichorium intybus L., Asteraceae (roots);
• Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch., Rosaceae (rhizome with roots);
• Rubia tinctorum L., Rubiaceae (rhizome with roots);
• Polygonum hydropiper L., Polygonaceae (herb);
• Gnaphalium uliginosum L., Asteraceae (herb);
• Urtica dioica L., Urticaceae (leaves);
• Tussilago farfara L., Asteraceae (leaves);
• Mentha piperita L., Lamiaceae (leaves);
• Plantago major L., Plantaginaceae (leaves);
• Vaccinium vitis–idaea L., Ericaceae (leaves, fruits);
• Hippophaё rhamnoides L., Elaeagnaceae (fruits, leaves);
• Rubus caesius L., Rosaceae (fruits – 0.064–1.526 mg%);
• Rubus idaeus L., Rosaceae (dried fruits – 1.397 mg%);
• Ribes nigrum L., Grossulariaceae (dried fruits – 1.191 mg%);
• Viburnum opulus L., Сarifoliaceae (dried fruits – 0.839 mg%);
• Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ericaceae (dried fruits – 0.898 mg%);
• Crataegus L., Rosaceae (fruits – 0.001–0.01 mg%);
• Sorbus aucuparia L., Rosaceae (fruits – 0.001 mg%);
• Rosa L., Rosaceae (fruits – 0.002–0.04 mg%).