Role of micronutrients in vegetable production: A review

Abstract

The nutrient elements which are required comparatively in small quantities are called as micro or minor nutrients or trace elements. Micronutrients are essentially as important as macronutrients to have better growth, yield and quality in plants. Proper plant nutrition is essential for successful production of vegetable crops. Integrated supply of micronutrients with macronutrients in adequate amount and suitable proportions is one of the most important factors that control the plant growth in vegetable crops. Micronutrients which are essential for all higher plants are boron (B), chlorine (Cl), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo) and nickel (Ni). Micronutrients like Cl, Cu, Fe and Mn are involved in various photosynthetic processes and Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn are associated with various enzymatic activities, Mo is specific for nitrate reductase only. Boron is associated with the carbohydrate metabolism and reproductive phase of the plants along with photosynthesis or enzymatic activities. Judicious use of micronutrients is essential for vegetable cultivation to get maximum yield of high quality produce. Plants differ in their need for micronutrients. In this review, we focus on the major functions of mineral micronutrients in vegetable production.

Implications of water stress and foliar application with some stimulants on productivity, fruit quality and water use efficiency of some tomato genotypes

“…Hildebrandt et al (2015) suggested other useful functions of amino acids in plant cells, such as protein biosynthesis, signaling processes, energy producers, auxin biosynthesis and enzyme regulation influencing physiological processes, plant growth and development. micronutrients have tonic effects on the photosynthetic rate producing higher carbohydrate accumulation and its translocation from leaves (source) to fruits (sink) increasing the total yield (Marschner, 1995;Uchida, 2000;Jadhav et al, 2014;Sidhu et al, 2019).…”

Effect of reducing water requirement and foliar application with some stimulants on vegetative growth of some tomato genotypes grown in heavy clay soil under drip irrigation system

“…The combined treatments of amino acids and micronutrients solution recorded higher increases in the vegetative growth parameters of tomato plants may be linked to increases in the endogenous concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Zn photosynthetic pigments and total soluble proteins with the combination treatments. (Sakya & Sulandjari, 2019;Sidhu et al, 2019;Salim et al, 2019).…”

“…Foliar applications with amino acids have favorable essential roles in influencing nutrient uptake, chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthesis, metabolism, and enzyme activation in eggplant Salim et al 2019 andSidhu et al, 2019. The Ca is directly involved in improving photosynthesis, resulting in a high leaf number on tomato plants (Hussain et al, 2001). The Ca improved the leaf area by activating enzymes, photosynthesis, and carbohydrates metabolism (Bergmann, 1992;Hussain et al, 2001).…”