Plant phys 2

Nitrogen

Important for DNA, Chlorophyll, and proteins. This is a mobile nutrient. Symptoms of deficiency are chlorosis.

Sulfur

Important for metabolism and structure of proteins, found in amino acids. Not easily mobilized. Symptoms of deficiency are chlorosis of younger leaves.

Phosphorus

Important for phospholipids, sugar phosphates, and nucleic acids. This is a mobile nutrient. Symptoms of deficiency are stunted growth, necrotic spots, and dark coloration of leaves. 

Silicon

Important for plasticity and rigidity of plant cell walls and creates bonds with lignin. Symptoms of deficiency are lodging, the plant falls over because it cannot support its own weight.  

boron

Important for cell elongation, synthesis of nucleic acids, and plant growth regulator responses. Not mobile. Symptoms of deficiency are necrosis of fruits, tubers, and fleshy roots as well as black necrosis of young leaves and buds, the terminal bud can die. 

potassium

Important for regulating turgor pressure, it is a cofactor in plant enzymes. This is a mobile nutrient. Symptoms of deficiency include marginal necrosis or chlorosis. 

Calcium

Important for synthesis of new cell walls, the mitotic spindle part of cell division, and the middle lamella of plant cells. Symptoms of deficiency include downward hooking of leaves, deformity, and brownish highly branched young roots.

Magnesium

Important for chlorophyll, helps to active enzymes that are involved in carbon fixation reactions. This is a mobile nutrient. Symptoms of deficiency include chlorosis between veins and whitening of leaves.

Chlorine

Important for photolysis, required for cell division in leaves and roots. Symptoms of deficiency include bronze leaves and wilted leaf tips. 

Zinc

Important for chlorophyll synthesis. This is a mobile nutrient. Symptoms of deficiency include chlorosis.

Sodium

Important for phosphonyl pyruvate, essential in C4 and CAM plants. Symptoms of deficiency include an inability to survive in hot and dry environments.

Manganese

Important for the krebs cycle and photolysis. Symptoms of deficiency include necrotic spots and chlorosis between leaves. 

Iron

Important for the synthesis of chlorophyll protein complexes in the thylakoid membrane, involved with proteins involved with electron transport in the chloroplast. This is not a mobile nutrient. Symptoms of deficiency include whitening of leaves.

Copper

Important for electron transfer during light reactions. This is not a mobile nutrient. Symptoms of deficiency include dark green leaves with necrotic spots that are twisted and malformed.

Nickel

Important component of urase, which breaks down urea. Symptoms of deficiency include an inability to obtain nitrogen and necrosis of leaf tips due to accumulation of urea. 

Molybdenum

Important for the uptake and fixation of nitrogen. Symptoms of deficiency are chlorosis of leaves. 

Nutrients involved in redox reactions

Manganese, Iron, Copper, nickel, molybdenum

Nutrients that remain in ionic form in the plant

Potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, zinc, and sodium

Nutrients important for energy storage/structural integrity

Phosphorus, silicon, boron

Nutrients that are part of carbon compounds

Nitrogen, sulfur