Ion Deficiencies in Plants
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 3.3.1
Ion Deficiencies
Plants need many mineral ions (minerals) for healthy growth. They extract most of these mineral ions from the soil. If the soil quality is poor, plants can suffer from ion deficiency conditions (disorders), such as:
Magnesium deficiency
- Magnesium is required for the production of chlorophyll.
- This causes chlorosis:
- The plant cannot photosynthesise well. This means that it cannot produce the glucose needed for healthy growth.
- When magnesium is absent, plant leaves are yellow.
Nitrate deficiency
- Nitrates are needed for the production and synthesis (creation) of proteins.
- Without proteins, plants cannot grow. This means that a nitrate deficiency causes stunted growth.
Test yourself on Ion Deficiencies in Plants
What does a plant need nitrate ions to produce?
List the two mineral ions that cause a named deficiency disorder in plants when they are lacking in the soil.
List the two effects on a plant: one caused by a lack of magnesium and one caused by a lack of nitrate.
What might happen to a plant growing in poor-quality soil?
A gardener's plant has stunted growth, but its leaves are a healthy green colour. Which mineral ion is this plant most likely lacking?