mineral nutrients

CHO

macro

– constituents of all biological organisms
– All life is impossible without these elements

K+

macro

- enzyme activator, required for guard cell movement
as well as cell turgor

Si+1

macro

– component of cell walls (as silica). Silica aids in
cell wall elasticity and rigidity.

NO3-, NH4+

macro

- building block of all amino acids and
proteins. Adenine, thyamine, guanine, and cytosine all
have N.

H2PO4-

macro

- phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes, DNA,
RNA, and central activating compound for cell
metabolism, and of course ATP

Mg+2

macro

– central element in chlorophyll, ribosome stability,
nucleic acids, and the phosphate transfers of ATP

Ca+2

macro

– middle lamella of the cell wall (used for structure),
signal molecule, and activator of the enzyme amalyse.

S

macro

– cysteine / methionine (amino acids) and proteins.
SO4 is reduced to S-2 by ferrodoxin in the chloroplast

Na+1

micro

– PEP regeneration in C4 and CAM plants, and can
be used as a surrogate for K+1

• H3BO3

micro

– sugar translocation, cell wall synthesis, DNA
synthesis

• Mn+2

micro

– Central ion in photosystem II and an activator of
enzymes in the Citric Acid Cycle

• Cu+2

micro

– used in many enzymes and proteins

• Cl-1

micro

– Used in O2 evolution in photosynthesis (PSII) and
maintains osmotic pressure in cells

• Zn+2

micro

– part of indole 3 acetic acid (hormone - auxin) as well as many enzymes

• Ni+2

micro

– enzyme urease that converts urea to ammonia
and carbon dioxide

Fe+3

micro

– component of enzymes and proteins as well as
the synthesis of chlorophylls and cytochromes

MoO4-2

micro

– part of NO3 reductase and nitrogenase