Iodine for Plants: Immunity
Iod (I)
For the plant: immunity.
The absorption of iodine by plants depends on the content of its compounds in the soil and the species of the plant.
In the plant organism, iodine plays an important role in the synthesis of certain amino acids and proteins, acts as a natural antiseptic, exerts strong antibacterial, antiviral, and fungicidal effects, and thus is responsible for the immunity of plants.
In angiosperms and algae, it is part of iodinated derivatives of tyrosine.
In the plant organism, iodine is contained on average at 0.01 mg% (by weight). Some organisms – marine algae (fucus, laminaria, phyllophora) – accumulate up to 1% iodine based on dry weight. In 1 ton of dried seaweed (laminaria), there is up to 5 kg of iodine, while in 1 ton of seawater, there is only about 50 mg.
Iodine deficiency in plants can lead to a decrease in immunity to various diseases.
With an excess of iodine in the soil, California poppy exhibits a growth anomaly – gigantism of flowers, while in some plants, the coloration of the flowers is dominated by atypical yellow-red tones.
Medicinal plants containing iodine:
• particularly rich in iodine is the yellow water lily Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm., Nymphaeaceae (rhizome with roots);
• erect cinquefoil Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch., Rosaceae (rhizome with roots);
• marshmallow Althaea officinalis L., Malvaceae (roots);
• species of aconite Aconitum L., Ranunculaceae (roots, tuberous roots)
• blue polemonium Polemonium coeruleum L., Polemoniaceae (rhizome with roots);
• rhodiola rosea Rhodiola rosea L., Crassulaceae (rhizome);
• spring adonis Adonis vernalis L., Ranunculaceae (herb);
• three-leaved menyanthes Menyanthes trifoliata L., Menyanthaceae (herb);
• marsh ledum Ledum palustre L., Ericaceae (shoots);
• small-leaved lime Tilia cordata Mill., Tiliaceae (leaves and flowers);
• buckthorn Frangula alnus Mill., Rhamnaceae (bark);
• Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L., Pinaceae (buds);
• medicinal marigold Calendula officinalis L., Asteraceae (inflorescences);
• common tansy Tanacetum vulgare L., Asteraceae (inflorescences);
• species of hawthorn Crataegus L., Rosaceae (fruits);
• common flax Linum usitatissimum L., Linaceae (seeds).
• particularly rich in iodine is the yellow water lily Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm., Nymphaeaceae (rhizome with roots);
• erect cinquefoil Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch., Rosaceae (rhizome with roots);
• marshmallow Althaea officinalis L., Malvaceae (roots);
• species of aconite Aconitum L., Ranunculaceae (roots, tuberous roots)
• blue polemonium Polemonium coeruleum L., Polemoniaceae (rhizome with roots);
• rhodiola rosea Rhodiola rosea L., Crassulaceae (rhizome);
• spring adonis Adonis vernalis L., Ranunculaceae (herb);
• three-leaved menyanthes Menyanthes trifoliata L., Menyanthaceae (herb);
• marsh ledum Ledum palustre L., Ericaceae (shoots);
• small-leaved lime Tilia cordata Mill., Tiliaceae (leaves and flowers);
• buckthorn Frangula alnus Mill., Rhamnaceae (bark);
• Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L., Pinaceae (buds);
• medicinal marigold Calendula officinalis L., Asteraceae (inflorescences);
• common tansy Tanacetum vulgare L., Asteraceae (inflorescences);
• species of hawthorn Crataegus L., Rosaceae (fruits);
• common flax Linum usitatissimum L., Linaceae (seeds).