Manganese for plants – a protector of chlorophyll
Manganese (= Manganese) (Mn)
For the plant – a protector of chlorophyll.
In the plant organism manganese activates over 35 enzymes, participates in photosynthesis (the photoproduction of oxygen in chloroplasts) and the synthesis of vitamins C, B, E, promotes an increase in sugar content and their outflow from leaves, accelerates plant growth and seed maturation.
In case of manganese deficiency, the synthesis of organic substances decreases, and the chlorophyll content is reduced. It is necessary for the normal course of photosynthesis, as it is part of the active center of the photosystem II complex, releasing oxygen and carrying out the decomposition of water and oxygen release:
2Mn4+ + 2H2O → 2Mn2+ + 4H+ + O2.
Moreover, manganese participates in the reduction of CO2, plays a role in maintaining the structure of chloroplasts, and has a side effect in the reduction of NO3–. In the absence of manganese, chlorophyll quickly breaks down in light.
This is associated with the characteristic symptom of manganese starvation – spot chlorosis of leaves. On the leaf blades between the veins, small yellow chlorotic spots appear, while the veins themselves remain green, and then the affected areas die. Weak development of the root system is observed. In fruit crops, along with chlorotic leaf disease, weak foliage of trees is noted, earlier than usual leaf drop, and in cases of severe manganese starvation – drying and dying of branch tips. Manganese deficiency is exacerbated by low temperatures and high humidity (winter cereals are most sensitive to its deficiency in early spring).
Sensitive to manganese deficiency are beet, potato, apple tree, cherry, and raspberry.
This is associated with the characteristic symptom of manganese starvation – spot chlorosis of leaves. On the leaf blades between the veins, small yellow chlorotic spots appear, while the veins themselves remain green, and then the affected areas die. Weak development of the root system is observed. In fruit crops, along with chlorotic leaf disease, weak foliage of trees is noted, earlier than usual leaf drop, and in cases of severe manganese starvation – drying and dying of branch tips. Manganese deficiency is exacerbated by low temperatures and high humidity (winter cereals are most sensitive to its deficiency in early spring).
Sensitive to manganese deficiency are beet, potato, apple tree, cherry, and raspberry.
In case of excess manganese, there is a disruption in plant development: in California poppy, the leaves turn pale green, in carnation, an unusual pink-red color range appears in the flowers, and in aster – an unusual dark purple.
A significant amount of manganese is also accumulated by some rust fungi Uredinales, bacteria of the genera Leptothrix, Crenothrix, and some diatoms (genus Cocconeis).
A significant amount of manganese is also accumulated by some rust fungi Uredinales, bacteria of the genera Leptothrix, Crenothrix, and some diatoms (genus Cocconeis).
Manganese positively influences the formation and accumulation of terpenoids (in particular – components of essential oils), steroids, triterpene saponins, cardiac glycosides, glycoalkaloids, and other compounds, the precursor of which is mevalonic acid.
Selectively accumulating manganese are plants that produce cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, alkaloids.
Plants that are hyperaccumulators of manganese include:
• Siberian fir Abies sibirica Ledeb., Pinaceae (needles, ash content – up to 40%);
• purple foxglove Digitalis purpurea L., woolly foxglove Digitalis lanata Ehrh., Scrophulariaceae (leaves, ash content – up to 9%);
• weakly cut alfalfa Medicago trunculata Gaertn., Fabaceae (grass, ash content – up to 500 g/t);
• white lupin Lupinus albus L., Fabaceae (grass, ash content – up to 500 g/t).
• Siberian fir Abies sibirica Ledeb., Pinaceae (needles, ash content – up to 40%);
• purple foxglove Digitalis purpurea L., woolly foxglove Digitalis lanata Ehrh., Scrophulariaceae (leaves, ash content – up to 9%);
• weakly cut alfalfa Medicago trunculata Gaertn., Fabaceae (grass, ash content – up to 500 g/t);
• white lupin Lupinus albus L., Fabaceae (grass, ash content – up to 500 g/t).
Medicinal plants that contain manganese:
• garden parsley Petroselinum sativum Hoffm., Apiaceae (roots, leaves);
• white cinquefoil Potentilla alba L., Rosaceae (grass, rhizome);
• lesser duckweed Lemna minor L., Araceae (whole plant);
• marsh cudweed Gnaphalium uliginosum L., Asteraceae (grass);
• three-part bidens Bidens tripartita L., Asteraceae (grass);
• spring adonis Adonis vernalis L., Ranunculaceae (grass);
• perforate St. John’s wort Hypericum perforatum L., Hypericaceae (grass);
• water pepper Polygonum hydropiper L., Polygonaceae (grass);
• three-leaved buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata L., Menyanthaceae (grass);
• greater celandine Chelidonium majus L., Papaveraceae (grass);
• marsh ledum Ledum palustre L., Ericaceae (shoots);
• species of wormwood Artemisia L., Asteraceae (grass, content – 13–19 mg/kg);
• Gmelin’s hedysarum Hedysarum gmelinii Ledeb., Fabaceae (grass, content – 19 mg/kg);
• feather grass Stipa pennata L., Poaceae (grass, content – 8 mg/kg);
• tuberous phlomis Phlomis tuberosa L., Lamiaceae (tubers, grass, content – 9 mg/kg);
• creeping thyme Thymus serpyllum L., Lamiaceae (grass, content – 22 mg/kg);
• smooth brome Bromopsis inermis (Leys). Holub, Poaceae (grass, content – 9 mg/kg);
• bush cinquefoil Pentaphylloides fruticosa (L.) O. Schwarz., Rosaceae (grass, content – 9–22 mg/kg);
• lily of the valley Convallaria majalis L., Convallariaceae (leaves, grass, flowers);
• peppermint Mentha piperita L., Lamiaceae (leaves);
• tree aloe Aloe arborescens Mill., Asphodelaceae (leaves);
• sea buckthorn Hippophaё rhamnoides L., Elaeagnaceae (fruits, leaves);
• species of eucalyptus Eucalyptus L’Hér., Myrtaceae (leaves);
• black elderberry Sambucus nigra L., Сарrifoliaceae (fruits – 0.03%);
• common barberry Berberis vulgaris L., Berberidaceae (fruits – 0.08%);
• floating water chestnut Trapa natans L., Lythraceae (fruits).
• garden parsley Petroselinum sativum Hoffm., Apiaceae (roots, leaves);
• white cinquefoil Potentilla alba L., Rosaceae (grass, rhizome);
• lesser duckweed Lemna minor L., Araceae (whole plant);
• marsh cudweed Gnaphalium uliginosum L., Asteraceae (grass);
• three-part bidens Bidens tripartita L., Asteraceae (grass);
• spring adonis Adonis vernalis L., Ranunculaceae (grass);
• perforate St. John’s wort Hypericum perforatum L., Hypericaceae (grass);
• water pepper Polygonum hydropiper L., Polygonaceae (grass);
• three-leaved buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata L., Menyanthaceae (grass);
• greater celandine Chelidonium majus L., Papaveraceae (grass);
• marsh ledum Ledum palustre L., Ericaceae (shoots);
• species of wormwood Artemisia L., Asteraceae (grass, content – 13–19 mg/kg);
• Gmelin’s hedysarum Hedysarum gmelinii Ledeb., Fabaceae (grass, content – 19 mg/kg);
• feather grass Stipa pennata L., Poaceae (grass, content – 8 mg/kg);
• tuberous phlomis Phlomis tuberosa L., Lamiaceae (tubers, grass, content – 9 mg/kg);
• creeping thyme Thymus serpyllum L., Lamiaceae (grass, content – 22 mg/kg);
• smooth brome Bromopsis inermis (Leys). Holub, Poaceae (grass, content – 9 mg/kg);
• bush cinquefoil Pentaphylloides fruticosa (L.) O. Schwarz., Rosaceae (grass, content – 9–22 mg/kg);
• lily of the valley Convallaria majalis L., Convallariaceae (leaves, grass, flowers);
• peppermint Mentha piperita L., Lamiaceae (leaves);
• tree aloe Aloe arborescens Mill., Asphodelaceae (leaves);
• sea buckthorn Hippophaё rhamnoides L., Elaeagnaceae (fruits, leaves);
• species of eucalyptus Eucalyptus L’Hér., Myrtaceae (leaves);
• black elderberry Sambucus nigra L., Сарrifoliaceae (fruits – 0.03%);
• common barberry Berberis vulgaris L., Berberidaceae (fruits – 0.08%);
• floating water chestnut Trapa natans L., Lythraceae (fruits).