Ion Deficiency Conditions
Biology: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 6.1.4
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.