Microelements for Plants

Microelements (trace elements) are elements whose concentration in the human body ranges from 10^–3 to 10^–5%, with a daily intake requirement of 20 mcg to 20 mg.

Microelements, also referred to as trace elements, perform indispensable catalytic and regulatory functions within the complex biochemical architecture of plants. Despite their minimal quantitative presence, these elements act as essential cofactors for numerous enzyme systems, governing critical physiological processes such as redox reactions, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and reproductive development. The delicate equilibrium of microelements is a fundamental determinant of plant metabolism, where even infinitesimal fluctuations in concentration can profoundly influence biomass productivity and stress resilience.

The group of MICROELEMENTS includes: aluminum, barium, boron, bromine, vanadium, germanium, iron, iodine, cobalt, lithium, manganese, copper, molybdenum, nickel, tin, selenium, strontium, rubidium, fluorine, chromium, and zinc.

• Aluminum in the plant organism regulates the colloidal properties of the cell and likely activates certain dehydrogenases and oxidases;
• Barium is commonly present in plants, though it does not appear to be an essential element. Evidence suggests that barium serves as a structural component of the supporting framework, specifically as part of cell membranes;
• Boron is one of the most critical microelements in the plant organism, particularly for dicotyledonous plants. It plays a vital role in the formation of reproductive organs and flower fertilization. Adequate boron supply increases the percentage of fruit set;
• Bromine in low doses exerts a regulatory effect on the development of the root system;
• Vanadium in the plant organism is a constituent of porphyrins and hemoproteins. The positive role of vanadium has been established in atmospheric nitrogen fixation by microorganisms, lipid metabolism, and photosynthesis;
• Germanium in the plant organism facilitates the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen, and promotes subsequent oxygen utilization;
• Iron in plant organisms is part of the active sites of redox enzymes such as catalase and peroxidase; it participates in chlorophyll synthesis, respiration processes, nitrogen fixation, and metabolic reactions;
• Iodine in the plant organism plays an important role in the synthesis of specific amino acids and proteins; it serves as a natural antiseptic with potent antibacterial, antiviral, and fungicidal properties, thereby contributing to plant immunity;
• Cobalt in plants influences the accumulation of nitrogenous compounds (possibly in non-nodulated plants as well) and carbohydrates, intensifying their translocation from vegetative to reproductive organs; it enhances respiration and photosynthetic rates, promoting chlorophyll formation and reducing its degradation during the dark period;
• Lithium positively affects general plant development (particularly the root system), improves potassium transport, enhances the photochemical activity of chloroplasts in leaves (e.g., in tomatoes), stimulates nicotine synthesis (in tobacco), and influences water-salt exchange, especially the metabolic reactions of halophytes;
• Manganese in the plant organism activates over 35 enzymes, participates in photosynthesis (photoproduction of oxygen in chloroplasts) and the synthesis of vitamins C, B, and E; it facilitates the increase of sugar content and its efflux from leaves, while accelerating plant growth and seed maturation. It is essential for the normal progression of photosynthesis;
• Copper is involved in the regulation of plant hormonal balance: through its regulatory effect on the levels of phenolic growth inhibitors, copper increases lodging resistance. It also enhances drought, frost, and heat resistance;
• Molybdenum in the plant organism is a component of enzymes responsible for the reduction of nitrate nitrogen in cells (nitrate reductase, nitrogenase, oxidase, and molybdoferredoxin); it plays a significant role in nitrogen metabolism and protein synthesis, promotes the assimilation of water-dissolved nitrogen and nitrogen fixation, and participates in nucleic acid synthesis and various redox reactions;
• Nickel in higher plants is a constituent of the enzyme urease, which catalyzes the decomposition of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. Nickel activates several enzymes, including nitrate reductase and hydrogenase, exerts a stabilizing effect on ribosome structure, and participates in nitrogen translocation and supply to plant tissues;
• Tin displaces magnesium from chlorophyll; therefore, leaves that yellow out of season indicate tin accumulation, as the loss of magnesium by plants induces chlorosis;
• Selenium in the plant organism influences resistance to various stresses: oxidative stress induced by UV radiation, herbicide-induced stress, hypothermia, senescence, salinity stress, etc. The protective effect of selenium during oxidative stress is manifested in the reduction of malondialdehyde and free proline levels, increased chlorophyll stability, biomass accumulation, and enhanced activity of glutathione peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and catalase;
• Strontium in low doses performs functions analogous to those of calcium: it participates in cell wall biosynthesis, increases the strength of plant tissues, and enhances plant endurance. It increases the starch content in potato tubers;
• Rubidium can partially substitute for potassium in plants. In the presence of potassium deficiency, rubidium may stimulate plant growth, help maintain adequate tissue hydration, and optimize the suction force of the roots;
• Fluorine. It has been noted that the visible stimulation of certain isoenzymes (e.g., acid phosphatase or dehydrogenase) following plant fumigation with hydrofluoric acid may lead to the inhibition of other enzymes;
• Chromium increases chlorophyll content and photosynthetic productivity in leaves, and stimulates plant growth;
• Zinc in the plant organism activates 30 enzymatic systems within the cell. It is part of the active sites of carbonic anhydrase, dehydrogenases, proteases, and peptidases. Zinc is essential for the normal development of the ovum and embryo. It enhances the drought, heat, and cold resistance of plants.