Zinc for plants: reproduction, growth, anti-stress

         For the plant – normal development of the ovum and embryo, biomass accumulation, stress resistance.
        

         In the plant organism, zinc activates 30 enzyme systems in the cell. It is part of the active centers of enzymes such as anhydrases, dehydrogenases, proteases, and peptidases.

      Zinc is necessary for the normal development of the ovum and embryo. It increases drought, heat, and cold resistance in plants.

      The zinc content in plants averages 0.003% (by weight).
Zinc-rich lichens, conifers, and also fungi (especially poisonous).

      Its deficiency leads to disturbances in cell division (leaf spotting in citrus), and narrow, spirally twisted leaves form on the plants. The tissue between the veins becomes colorless, and they are highlighted by a distinct green mesh.

     Excess zinc can cause deformation of organs: in poppies, flowers become double, while in field pennycress, petals become very large. In other plants, leaf chlorosis may occur, spreading from the tip to the base of the leaf.
Selectively accumulate zinc plants that contain alkaloids.

      Indicator plants of increased zinc content in the soil include:
• tricolor violet Viola tricolor L., Violaceae;
• field horsetail Equisetum arvense L., Equisetaceae;
• garden pansy (= Wittrock’s violet) Viola x wittrockiana Gams ex Hegi, Violaceae.

     Super-concentrator plants of zinc include:
• erect cinquefoil Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch., Rosaceae (rhizome with roots);
• silver birch Betula pendula Roth, Betulaceae (buds, leaves; birch leaves contain about 16 mg of zinc per 100 g of dry weight);
• alpine pennycress Thlaspi calaminare Lej. & Court., Brassicaceae (herb, content in ash – 18–21%).

     Medicinal plants containing zinc:
• erect cinquefoil Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch., Rosaceae (rhizome with roots);
• greater burdock Arctium lappa L., Asteraceae (roots);
• common dandelion Taraxacum officinale Webb, Asteraceae (roots);
• medicinal ginger Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae (rhizome);
• Manchurian aralia Aralia mandshurica Rupr. et Maxim., Araliaceae (rhizome with roots);
• Baikal skullcap Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi., Lamiaceae (rhizome with roots);
• species of aconite Aconitum L., Ranunculaceae (roots, tuberous roots);
• bluebell Polemonium coeruleum L., Polemoniaceae (rhizome with roots);
• garden parsley Petroselinum sativum Hoffm., Apiaceae (roots, leaves);
• onion Allium cepa L., Alliaceae (bulbs);
• silver birch Betula pendula Roth, Betulaceae (buds, leaves);
• common alfalfa Medicago sativa L., Fabaceae (herb);
• marsh cudweed Gnaphalium uliginosum L., Asteraceae (herb);
• creeping tribulus Tribulus terrestris L., Zygophyllaceae (herb);
• field violet Viola arvensis Murray, Violaceae (herb);
• three-parted burdock Bidens tripartita L., Asteraceae (herb);
• greater celandine Chelidonium majus L., Papaveraceae (herb);
• eyebright Euphrasia officinalis L., Scrophulariaceae (herb);
• lemon balm Melissa officinalis L., Lamiaceae (herb);
• field horsetail Equisetum arvense L., Equisetaceae (herb);
• spring adonis Adonis vernalis L., Ranunculaceae (herb);
• bird knotweed (= common knotweed) Polygonum aviculare L., Polygonaceae (herb);
• tree aloe Aloe arborescens Mill., Asphodelaceae (leaves);
• feather-leaved kalanchoe Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers., Crassulaceae (fresh shoots, leaves);
• medicinal sage Salvia officinalis L., Lamiaceae (leaves);
• common lingonberry Vaccinium vitis–idaea L., Ericaceae (leaves);
• common bearberry Arctostaphylos uva–ursi (L.) Spreng., Ericaceae (leaves);
• broadleaf plantain Plantago major L., Plantaginaceae (leaves);
• stinging nettle Urtica dioica L., Urticaceae (leaves);
• cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus L., Rosaceae (leaves);
• Japanese yam Dioscorea nipponica Makino, Dioscoreaceae (leaves);
• Indian thorn apple Datura inoxia Mill., Solanaceae (leaves);
• black currant Ribes nigrum L., Grossulariaceae (leaves);
• common maize Zea mays L., Poaceae (silks);
• medicinal marigold Calendula officinalis L., Asteraceae (inflorescences);
• medicinal chamomile Chamomilla chamomilla (L.) Rydb., Asteraceae (inflorescences);
• dense-flowered mullein Verbascum densiflorum Bertol., Scrophulariaceae (flowers);
• species of rose Rosa L., Rosaceae (fruits);
• Chinese schisandra Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., Schisandraceae (fruits);
• common hop Humulus lupulus L., Cannabaceae (inflorescences);
• sarson mustard Brassica juncea (L.) Czern., Brassicaceae (seeds);
• common fennel Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Apiaceae (seeds);
• milk thistle Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., Asteraceae (seeds).