Mineral Nutrition

The basic needs of all living organisms are essentially the same. They require macromolecules, such as carbo-
hydrates, proteins and fats, and water and minerals for their growth and development.
This chapter focusses mainly on inorganic plant nutrition, wherein you will study the methods to identify
elements essential to growth and development of plants and the criteria for establishing the essentiality. You
will also study the role of the essential elements, their major deficiency symptoms and the mechanism of
absorption of these essential elements.

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Diagram of a typical set up for Hydroponic plant production. Plants are grown
nutrient solution culture in a tube or trough placed on a slight incline. A
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pump circulates a nutrient solution from a reser

voir to the elevated end of the tube. The solution
flows down the tube and returns to the reservoir
due to gravity. Inset shows a plant whose roots are
continuously bathed in aerated nutrient solution.
The arrows indicates the direction of the flow.
In 1860, Julius von Sachs, a prominent German botanist, demonstrated, for the first time, that plants
could be grown to maturity in a defined nutrient solution in complete absence of soil. This technique of
growing plants in a nutrient solution is known as hydroponics.
Since then, a number of improvised methods have been employed to try and determine the mineral nutrients
essential for plants. The essence of all these methods involves the culture of plants in a soil-free, defined
mineral solution.
After a series of experiments in which the roots of the plants were immersed in nutrient solutions and wherein
an element was added / removed or given in varied concentration, a mineral solution suitable for the plant
growth was obtained.
By this method, essential elements were identified and their deficiency symptoms discovered. Hydroponics
has been successfully employed as a technique for the commercial production of vegetables such as tomato,
seedless cucumber and lettuce. It must be emphasised that the nutrient solutions must be adequately aerated
to obtain the optimum growth.
Mineral Nutrition
The criteria for essentiality of an element are given below
a) The element must be absolutely necessary for supporting normal growth and reproduction.
In the absence of the element the plants do not complete their life cycle or set the seeds.
b) The requirement of the element must be specific and not replaceable by another element. In other words,
deficiency of any one element cannot be met by supplying some other element.
c) The element must be directly involved in the metabolism of the plant.
Based upon the above criteria only a few elements have been found to be absolutely essential for plant growth
and metabolism. These elements are further divided into two broad categories based on their quantitative
requirements.
i) Macronutrients
ii) Micronutrients
Macronutrients are generally present in plant tissues in large amounts (in excess of 10 mmole Kg-1 of dry
matter). The macronutrients include carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur, potassium,
calcium and magnesium.
Of these, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are mainly obtained from CO2 and H2O, while the others are ab-
sorbed from the soil as mineral nutrition.

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Micronutrients or trace elements, are needed in very small amounts (less than 10 m mole Kg-1 of dry matter).
These include iron, manganese, copper, molybdenum, zinc, boron, chlorine and nickel.
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In addition to the 17 essential elements named above, there are some beneficial elements such as sodium,
silicon, cobalt and selenium. They are required by higher plants.
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Na - halophytes (eg. Atriplex - helps in C4 pathway)

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Si - grasses (Provides mechanical strength)

Se - astragalus
Co - leguminous plants (root nodule formation)
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Essential elements can also be grouped into four broad categories on the basis of their diverse functions.
These categories are:
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i) Essential elements as components of biomolecules and hence structural elements of cells (e.g., carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen).
ii) Essential elements that are components of energy-related chemical compounds in plants (e.g., magnesium
in chlorophyll and phosphorous in ATP).
iii) Essential elements that activate or inhibit enzymes, for example Mg2+ is an activator for both ribulose
bisphosphate carboxy laseoxygenase and phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase, both of which are critical en-
zymes in photosynthetic carbon fixation; Zn2+ is an activator of alcohol dehydrogenase and Mo of nitrogenase
during nitrogen metabolism.
iv) Some essential elements can alter the osmotic potential of a cell. Potassium plays an important role in the
opening and closing of stomata.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS OF ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

Whenever the supply of an essential element becomes limited, plant growth is retarded. The concentration of
the essential element below which plant growth is retarded is termed as critical concentration. The element is
said to be deficient when present below the critical concentration.
Since each element has one or more specific structural or functional role in plants, in the absence of any
particular element, plants show certain morphological changes. These morphological changes are indicative
of certain element deficiencies and are called deficiency symptoms.
 Mineral Nutrition
The deficiency symptoms vary from element to element and they disappear when the deficient mineral nutrient
is produced to the plant. However, if deprivation (deficiency) continuous, it may eventually lead to the death
of the plant.
The parts of the plants that show the deficiency symptoms also depend on the mobility of the element in the
plant. For elements that are actively mobilised within the plants and exported to young developing tissues the
deficiency symptoms tend to appear first in the older tissues. For example, the deficiency symptoms of
nitrogen, potassium and magnesium are visible first in the senescent leaves. In the older leaves, biomolecules
containing these elements are broken down, making these elements available for mobilising to youger leaves.
The deficiency symptoms tend to appear first in the young tissues whenever the elements are relatively immo-
bile and are not transported out of the mature organs, for example, elements like calcium is a part of the
structural component of the cell and hence are not easily released. This aspect of mineral nutrition of plants is
of a great significance and importance to agriculture and horticulture.

TOXICITY OF MICRONUTRIENTS
The requirement of micronutrients is always in low amounts while their moderate decrease causes the defi-
ciency symptoms and a moderate increase causes toxicity.
Any mineral ion concentration in tissues that reduces the dry weight of tissues by about 10 percent is consid-

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ered toxic. Such critical concentrations vary widely among different micronutrients.
For example, the prominent symptom of manganese toxicity is the appearance of brown spots surrounded by
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chlorotic veins. It is important to know that manganese competes with iron and magnesium for uptake and
with magnesium for binding with enzymes. Manganese also inhibit calcium translocation in shoot apex. There-
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fore, excess of manganese may, in fact, induce deficiencies of iron, magnesium and calcium.

MINERAL ABSORPTION
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Soil is the main source of mineral salts. These mineral salts are mainly absorbed by the root hair region of
roots.
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The movement of mineral ions is usually called as flux. The inward movement inside the cell is called influx and
outward movement is efflux.
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The mineral absorption occurs mainly in two phases -

In first phase, an initial rapid uptake of ions into the Free space or Outer space of cell, the apoplast (intercel-
lular spaces and cell wall), which is a passive process.
In the second phase of uptake, the ions are taken in slowly into the inner space, the symplast of the cell which is
both active and passive process (mainly active process) are involved. The passive movement of ions in symplast
occurs through ion channels which are trans-membrane proteins and act as selective pores. The active influx and
efflux from symplast occurs with the help of pump proteins and with expenditure of energy/ATP.
Methods of Mineral Absorption -
A) Passive B) Active
A) Passive absorption of Minerals : (Without expenditure of ATP)
1) By Simple diffusion : According to this method mineral ions may diffuse in root cells from the soil solution.
2) By mass flow : According to this method mineral ions absorption occurs with flow of water under the
influence of transpiration.
Why absorption is not completely passive ?
1) Minerals are present in the soil as charged particles (ions) which mostly can not move across cell mem-
branes passively.
2) The concentration of minerals in the soil is usually lower than the concentration of minerals in the roots.
Mineral Nutrition
B) Active ion absorption : (By expenditure of ATPs)
In this process ions enters into more concentrated cell sap from less concentrated soil solution by consump-
tion of energy of ATP.
Specific proteins in the membranes of root hair actively pump ions from the soil into the cytoplasms of the
epidermal cells.
Like all cells, endodermal cells have many transport proteins embedded in their plasma membrane; they let
some solutes cross the membrane, but not others. Transport proteins of endodermal cell of root are control
points, where a plant adjust the quantity and types of solutes that reach the xylem. The root endodermis
because of the layer of suberin has the ability to actively transport ions in one direction only.
TRANSFER/TRANSLOCATGION OF MINERAL IONS
When ions reach to the xylem of root by active or passive absorption or by cumulative activity of both then
transport of these ions towards stem and all the parts of plant is occurs due to transpiration flow through xylem.
Main storing regions or sinks for minerals elements are growth region of plants like apices and lateral mer-
istem, young leaves, developing flowers, fruits, seeds and storage organs.
Analysis of xylem secretion is show that some nitrogen translocated in the form of inorganic ions anc most of
the part of it translocated in the form of organic amides.
Like this phosphorus and sulphur are also translocated in the form of organic compound. Except this material
is also transfer between xylem and phloem. So, we cannot distinctly differentiate that xylem only translocate
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inorganic nutrients and phloem translocate only organic meterials. Such that believes before.
P.R. Stout and Hoagland (1939) proved that mineral salts are translocated through xylem along with transpi-
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ration pull (experiment with help of radioisotopes).
NAME ROLE/FUNCTION DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
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NITROGEN i) Present in porphyrins i) Chlorosis (yellowing in

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Imp. in growth, metabolism, of Chlorophylls & Cytochromes, older leaves), highly mobile
heredity & reproduction) thus active role in photosynthesis ii) Anthocyanin formed in
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& respiration. (ETS). stem, petioles & leaf, (tomato etc.)

NO3- form(Nitrate) ii) Absorbed from soil as NO3-,
rarely NO2- or NH4+ NO2- or NH4+
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SULPHUR i) Parts of cystine, cystein, & i) Reduce optimum growth

SO42- (Sulphate) form methionine amino acids. and productivity in oil seed crops.
ii) Vit. biotene, thiamine, Co-A ii) Reduce nodule formation
in respiration. in legumes
iii) Role in oil synthesis, chlorophyll iii) Delay in flowering
synthesis & part of ferredoxin
iv) Root nodule formation.
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PHOSPHORUS Very imp. in RNA, DNA Premature leaf fall, necrosis,

H2PO4 and HPO2-4 (heredity) Phospholipid anthocyanin formation.
Orthophosphate anion form) (Cell membrane) NADP
Co-enzyme) ATP (Energy reactions)
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 Mineral Nutrition
CALCIUM i) Imp. for mechanical strength, i) Disintegration of growing
because Ca is constituent of middle apices (root, shoot, leaf apex).
Ca++ form lamella(Ca-pectate in cell wall)
ii) Permeability of biomembrane ii) Irregular cell divisions
is maintained by calcium. mitosis) and death of meristem.
iii) Stability of chromosome
structure & in spindle formation
Hewitt 1963)
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MOLYBDENUM Role as prosthetic group of nitrate Whip tail of cauliflower.

Molybdate ion) reductase and nitrogenase in
= Mo O22+ nitrogen metabolism.
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POTASSIUM i) Key role in stomatal movement i) Mottled (interveinal) chlo

K+ is only Monovalant and transpiration. rosis, & shorter the internodes.

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cation in Free form ii) In starch synthesis & ii) "die-back" disease and
distribution, regulation of bushy habit.
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permeability and balance charge
of cells (Cation-anion balance)
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iii) More required by meristematic
tissues.
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MAGNESIUM Constituent of Chlorophyll and in Interveinal chlorosis on large

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Mg++ form binding of ribosomal units. scale and formation of anthocyanin

in older leaves.
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IRON (Fe) i) Iron - porphyrin protein for Rapid Interveinal chlorosis

+++
Absorption in Fe (ic) form, cytochromes, Peroxidase, New leaves)
which is active form. Catalases (Photorespiration)
ii) Important for ferredoxin,
biological N2 fixation & ETS.
iii) Essential role in chlorophyll synthesis.
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MANGANESE Essential for O2 evolution and Marsh spot of pea and grey
Mn++ form photolysis of water in light reaction spots of oat.
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BORON i) B is only micronutrient, which i) Brown heart rot of beets

B4O7-2 or or BO3-3 is not associated with enzymes. ii) Stout axis
Borate) ii) Required for uptake and
utilisation of Ca2+
iii) Carbohydrate translocation
 Mineral Nutrition
iv) B is essential in pollen tube
formation.
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COPPER i) In redox reaction, reversibly (i) "Die-back of citrus" and

Cu++ form oxidised from Cu+ to Cu2+ other fruit trees Exanthema in
ii) Vit.-C (ascorbic Acid) trees.
formation. ii) Reclamation disease of
iii) PC, cyto. a, a3 cereals and legume crops.
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ZINC i) Specific role in Auxin (IAA) (i) 'Khaira disease of paddy'

Zn++ form hormone synthesis in cell. ii) Little leaf disease.
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CHLORINE i) Alongwith Na+ & K+ it helps

Cl- form in determining the solute
concentration and anion,
cation balance in cells.
ii) Alongwith manganese it is .in
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essential for the water splitting in
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photosynthesis to liberate oxygen.
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NICKEL It is the activater of enzyme urease

Ni++ form this enzyme is required to split urea
in plant body to obtain nitrogen).
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SOME EXTRA POINTS

C, H, O, N, P and S are main constituents of protoplasm (organic materials). So they are called as pro-
toplasmic elements.
C, H and O are the main components of nucleic acid, proteins, enzymes, carbohydrates, fats, (frame work
elements)
Almost all types of soil are deficient of N, P and K so these elements are known as critical elements, and are
given to the soil in form of NPK-fertilizers to take good crop yield.
Mo is required in minimum quantity.
Gold (Au) present in Equisetum, musturd plants.
Trace elements are micro-nutrients, while tracer elements are radio-isotopes.
Mg remains left after chlorophyll burning.

NITROGEN METABOLISM
Nitrogen (N2) Cycle :
1) Biological Nitrogen Fixation / Diazotrophy (N2  NH3) Conversion of molecular or elemental nitrogen (N
= N) into inorganic nitrogenous compounds (NH4+) by living organisms is called as biological nitrogen fixation
or Diazotrophy
 Mineral Nutrition
2) Ammonification : Conversion of dead organic nitrogenous compounds into ammonia. Bacillus mycoides, B.
ramosus.
3) Nitrification : Oxidation of ammonia, produced by ammonification into nitrates by nitrifying bacteria is called
as nitrification.
i) 2NH3 + 3O2 
Nitrosomonas 2NO2- + 2H2O+2H+
Ammonia Nitrite ion
ii) 2NO2- + O2  Nitrobacter
 2NO3
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Nitrate ions
Some fungi like Aspergillus, Penicillium can also carry out this process.
4) Denitrification : Nitrates or nitrites converts back into molecular or atm. nitrogen by denitrifying bacteria is
denitrification. Ex. Pseudomonas, Thiobacillus

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The nitrogen cycle showing relationship between the three main nitrogen
pools - atmosphere, soil and biomass
 Mineral Nutrition

DIAZOTROPHS

BGA BACTERIA

FREE LIVING SYMBIOTIC FREE LIVING SYMBIOTIC LOOSE

SYMBIOSIS
Nostoc Nostoc-Cycas Azotobacter Frankia - Root nodule
Symbiosis without
Anabaena Anabaena in non legumes
Beijernickea physicalcontact
Aulosira -Azolla & Cycas Azorhizobium Azospirillum with
Clostridium maize roots
Cylindrospermum Stem nodule
Methanococcus in Sesbania
Oscillatoria
Bacillus

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Bradyrhizobium Root nodule
Rhodopseudomonas Sinorhizobium in soyabean
Rhodospirillum Rhiozobium
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Chromatium leguminsarum
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Root nodule
in pea, clover
Psymopsis
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5) Nitrate reduction : Plants take nitrogen from soil, chiefly in nitrate form which is converts into ammonia by
following method
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Nitrate reductase(Cytoplasm) Nitrate reductase(plastid)

NO3-  NO2-  NH4+
Enzyme nitrogenase is a Mo-Fe protein and catalyse the conversion of atm. N2 to NH3.
It posses two units unit-Ist is Mo-Fe protein and unit-IInd is Fe-S protein
Nitrogenase is extremely sensitive to oxygen. So to protect it from oxygen, nodules contains an O2 scavanger
called leghaemoglobin (Lhb) and combined with O2 to form oxyleghaemo-globin (LHbO2)
Leghaemoglobin is pink in colour & similar to haemoglobin of vertebrates. Globin part synthesised by plant
and heam part by bacteria.

BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION

A) NODULE FORMATION :
It is due to interactions between bacteria and host root. It occurs in following steps :
i) Multiplication & colonization of Rhizobia at Rhizosphere and attachment to epidermal root hair cells.
Initial attraction of Rhizobia to host root is chemotactic (Rhicadhesin protein of bacterial cell identify host
root) as root exude amino acids, sugars, organic acids and flavonoids.
ii) Characterstic curling of root hairs and invasion of the bacteria to form an infection thread, by the
invegination of plasma membrane of root hair cells and it reaches up to the cortex of roots.
Curling of root hairs is stimulated by specific complex polysaccharides found on the surface of rhizobia,
 Mineral Nutrition
recognised by Lectins (small proteins of host plant root).
iii) Nodule initiation & development in root cortex. Mitogenic agents secreted (Kinetin) by bacteria &
auxin produced by plant cell promotes cell division & extension leading to nodule formation.
Nodule establishes direct vascular connection with host for exchange of nutrients. Root nudule cells have chro-
mosome in double as compare to other somatic cells. Thus nodule cells are polyploid specially Tetraploid.
iv) Release of bacteria from infection thread and they differentiate as specilized nitrogen fixing cell.
Bacteria continue to multiply during it's path in root hair cells & bacteria distribute in most of cells. The
membrane of infection thread bud off to form small vesicles which containing one or more bacteria. Then
bacteria stop dividing & enlarge & differentiate in group of nitrogen fixing cells and called as bacteroid & it's
membrane is called as peribacteroid membrane.

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Mineral Nutrition

Infection thread Rhizobium bacteria

Chemical signals Bacteroids form
attract bacteria Bacteroid

Dividing cells
in root cortex
Dividing cells in
pericycle
Developing
root nodule
Bacteroid

Nodule

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forms
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Nodule develops
vascular tissue
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Nodule vascular tissue
Bacteroid
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Development of root nodules in soyabean.

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MECHANISM OF BIOLOGICAL N2 FIXATION :

By Burris. The atm. N2 is reduce by the addition of hydrogen atoms.
The three bonds between two nitrogen atoms N = N or dinitrogen are broken & ammonia (NH3) is formed
by reduction of N = N and then reduction of ammonia (NH3) to form ammonium ions (NH4+).
N2 fixation requires 3 components :
i) A strong reducing agent - NADPH2/FADH2/NADH2 - from photosynthesis & respiration.
ii) ATP to transfer hydrogen atom to dinitrogen - from respiration & photosynthesis.
iii) Nitrogenase enzyme (Formed by nif gene).
Over all reaction :
N2 + 8e- + 8H+ + 16 ATP  2NH3 + H2 + 16 ADP + 16Pi
Inorganic NH3 (Produced by nitrate reduction or biological fixation or obtained from soil as NH4+) reacts
with a TCA cycle intermediate -  -ketoglutaric acid to form an amino acid glutamic acid. This process
known as Reductive amination or Amino acid Biosynthesis.
Glutamate
α -Ketoglutaric acid + NH4+ + NADPH2 dehydrogenase
Glutamic acid + H2O + NADP
Transamination Transfer of Amino group from glutamic acid to other keto acid is known as transamination.
 Mineral Nutrition
This is a process of formation of other amino acids in plants, (transaminase enzyme) Ex.
Glutamic acid + Pyruvic acid Alanine +  -ketoglutarate
Glutamic acid + OAA Aspartic acid +  -kero glutaric acid.
Glutamic acid is first formed amino acid in plants & can synthesize different amino acids by transamination.

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FATE OF AMMONIA (SYNTHESIS OF AMINO ACIDS & NITROGEN ASSIMILATION)
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Transportation of Assimilated N2 :
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In plants transportation of assimilated N2 through xylem occurs mainly in form of amides (Glutamine and
Asparagine), especially in leguminous plants.
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Amides are more stable than amino acids and posses high nitrogen to carbon ratio (2N to 5C in glutamine,
while glutamic acid posses IN to 5C).
Formation of amides from amino acids by the addition of amino group, (The hydroxyl part of acid replaced by
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NH2 radicle) catalysed by enzyme and is called Catalytic amidation.

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In Soyabean, Ureides are translocated in non nodulated plant parts.

1. Which of the following is/are essential for hydroponic medium ?

1) pH balance 2) Stirring 3) Aeration 4) All of the above
2. For which elements concentration higher than 10 m mole/Kg of dry matter in plants may result in
toxicity ?
1) Mn, Fe & Mg 2) Mn, Zn, Cu 3) Mg, Ca, K 4) Ca, Mn & Fe
3. Nitrogen fixer which shows association with a fern as well as gymosperm is
1) Nostoc 2) Anabaena 3) Oscillatonia 4) Frankia
4. Genes related to nodule formation are present in
1) Legume plant and nostoc 2) Legume plant and Rhizobium
3) Legume plant only 4) Rhizobium only
5. Loss of amino group from alanine forms an organic compound which can be used in respiration &
this compound is
1)  -Ketoglutarate 2) Asparatic acid 3) OAA 4) Pyruvic acid
 Mineral Nutrition

1) 4 2) 2 3) 2 4) 2 5) 4

1. Which of the group of elements is not essential for a normal plant ?

1) K, Ca, Mg 2) Fe, Zn, Mn, B 3) Pb, I, Na 4) Mg, Fe, Mo
2. Hydroponics is a technique in which plants are grown in ?
1) Green house 2) Water saturated sand
3) Balanced nutrient solution 4) Purified distilled water
3. For chlorophyll formation a plant needs
1) Fe, Ca & light 2) Fe, Mg & Light 3) Ca, K & light 4) Mn & Cu

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4. Brown heart rot of beets is due to deficiency of
1) B 2) P 3) Mg 4) Mo
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5. Die back disease in citrus is due to deficiency of
1) Mo 2) B 3) Cu 4) Zn
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6. The disease related with deficiency of molybdenum is
1) Whiptail disease of cauliflower 2) Little leaf disease
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3) Reclamation disease of cereals 4) Brown heart disease

7. Protoplasmic elements are
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1) C, H, O, P, N, S 2) C, H, O, Fe, N 3) N, S, Fe, P, K 4) Fe, Mg, Ca, N, P

8. Which element is not considered as macronutrient ?
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1) Mg 2) Ca 3) Mn 4) P
9. The element which can not be placed along with micronutrients
1) Mn 2) Mo 3) Cu 4) Ca
10. The amino acid having S in its composition is
1) Cystine 2) Cysteine 3) Methionine 4) All
11. The group of mineral nutrients known as frame work elements
1) N, S, P 2) C, H, O 3) Mg, Fe, Zn 4) Zn, Mn, Cu
12. Which element essential for stability of chromosome structure ?
1) Zn 2) Ca 3) Mo 4) Fe
13. "Reclamation" and "Little leaf" disease, caused by deficiency of -
1) Zn and Mo 2) Cu and Zn 3) Cu and B 4) Mn and Cu
14. Which element is required in comparatively least quantity for the growth of plant ?
1) Zn 2) N 3) P 4) Ca
15. Which of the following essential element is not properly placed in the given category ?
1) Cu 2) Zn 3) Mg 4) Mn
16. Which mineral nutrients are called critical element for crops ?
 Mineral Nutrition
1) N, P, K 2) C, H, O 3) N, S, Mg 4) K, Ca, Fe
17. Which is most common free ion present in a cell ?
1) P 2) K 3) Fe 4) B
18. Active uptake of minerals depends upon
1) Active water absorption 2) Transpiration
3) Photorespiration 4) Dephosphorylation
19. When chlorophyll is burnt, which one obtained ?
1) Fe 2) Mg 3) Ca 4) Mn
20. Which element related with Khaira disease, of Paddy & auxin synthesis
1) Fe 2) Zn 3) B 4) Cu
21. Generally plants absorbed N2 in the form of
1) NO2- 2) NO3- 3) N = N 4) HNO2
22. The most abundant element present in the plants is
1) Iron 2) Carbon 3) Nitrogen 4) Manganese
23. Which is essential for N2 metabolism ?

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1) B 2) Mo 3) Cu 4) Mg
24. The major portion of the dry weight of plants comprises of
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1) Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 2) Calcium, magnesium and sulphur
3) Carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen 4) Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
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25. Gray spots of Oat are caused by deficiency of

1) Cu 2) Zn 3) Mn 4) Fe
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1) 3 2) 3 3) 2 4) 1 5) 3 6) 1 7) 1 8) 3 9) 4 10) 4
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11) 2 12) 2 13) 2 14) 1 15) 3 16) 1 17) 2 18) 4 19) 2 20) 2
21) 2 22) 2 23) 2 24) 4 25) 3

AIPMT 2006
1. Sulphur is an important nutrient for optimum growth and productivity in
1) Fibre crops 2) Oil seed crops 3) Pulse crops 4) Cereals

AIPMT 2007
2. A plant requires magnesium for
1) Cell wall development 2) Holding cells together
3) Protein synthesis 4) Chlorophyll synthesis
3. Which of the following is a flowering plant with nodules containing filamentous nitrogen-fixing mi-
croorganism ?
1) Cicer arietinum 2) Casuarina equisetifolia
 Mineral Nutrition
3) Crotalaria juncea 4) Cycas revoluta
4. About 98 percent of the mass of every living organism is composed of just six elements including
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and
1) Calcium and phosphorus 2) Phosphorus and sulphur
3) Sulphur and magnesium 4) Magnesium and sodium
5. Which one of the following elements is not an essential micronutrient for plant growth ?
1) Ca 2) Mn 3) Zn 4) Cu

AIPMT 2008
6. Nitrogen fixation in root nodules of Ain us is brought about by
1) Frankia 2) Azorhizobium 3) Bradyrhizobium 4) Clostridium

AIPMT 2009
7. Manganese is required in
1) Plant cell wall formation 2) Photolysis of water during photosynthesis
3) Chlorophyll synthesis 4) Nucleic acid synthesis
8. Which of the following is a symbiotic nitrogen fixer?
1) Azotobacter 2) Frankia .in
3) Azolla 4) Glomus
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AIPMT-Pre 2010
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9. An element playing important role in nitrogen fixation is
1) Molybdenum 2) Copper 3) Manganese 4) Zinc
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10. Which one of the following is not a micronutrient ?

1) Molybdenum 2) Magnesium 3) Zinc 4) Boron
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11. One of the free-living, anaerobic nitrogen - fixer is

1) Beijernickia 2) Rhodospirillum 3) Rhizobium 4) Azotobacter
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12. The common nitrogen - fixer in paddy fields is

1) Rhizobium 2) Azospirillum 3) Oscillatoria 4) Frankia

AIPMT-Mains 2010
13. Study the cycle shown below and select the option which gives correct words tor the all the four
blanks A, B, Cand D.
 Mineral Nutrition

1) A-Denitrification B-Ammonification
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C-Plants D-Animals
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2) A-Nitrification B-Denitrification C-Animals D-Plants
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3) A-Denitrification B-Nitrification C-Plants D-Animals
4) A-Nitrification B-Ammonification C-Animals D-Plants
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14. Leguminous plants are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen through the process of symbiotic nitrogen fixa-
tion. Which one of the following statements is not correct during this process of nitrogen fixation ?
1) Nodules act as sites for nitrogen fixation
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2) The enzyme nitrogenase catalyses the converison of atmospheric N2 to NH3

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3) Nitrogenase is insensitive to oxygen

4) Leghaemoglobin scavenges oxygen and is pinkish in colour

AIPMT-Pre 2011
15. A prokaryotic autotrophic nitrogen fixing symbiont is found in
1) Alnus 2) Cycas 3) Cicer 4) Pisum
16. Which one of the following elements in plants is not remobilised ?
1) Phosphorus 2) Calcium 3) Potassium 4) Sulphur
17. An organism used as a biofertilizer for raising soyabean crop is
1) Azotobacter 2) Azospirillum 3) Rhizobium 4) Nostoc
18. Nitrifying bacteria
1) Oxidize ammonia to nitrates 2) Convert free nitrogen to nitrogen compounds
3) Convert proteins into ammonia 4) Reduce nitrates to free nitrogen
19. The function of leghaemoglobin in the root nodules of legumes is
1) Inhibition of nitrogenase activity 2) Oxygen removal
3) Nodule differentiation 4) Expression of nif gene
 Mineral Nutrition

AIPMT-Mains 2011
20. Which one of the following is not an essential mineral element for plants while the remaining three are ?
1) Phosphorus 2) Iron 3) Manganese 4) Cadmium
21. Which one of the following is essential for photolysis of water ?
1) Boron 2) Manganese 3) Zinc 4) Copper
AIPMT-Pre 2012
22. Best defined function of Manganese in green plants is
1) Nitrogen fixation 2) Water absorption 3) Photolysis of water 4) Calvin cycle
23. Which one of the following is wrong statement ?
1) Phosphorus is a constituent of cell membranes, certain nucleic acids and all proteins
2) Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter are chemoautotrophs
3) Anabaena and Nostoc are capable of fixing nitrogen in free-living state also
4) Root nodule forming nitrogen fixers live as aerobes under free-living conditions
AIPMT-Mains 2012
24. For its action, nitrogenase requires
1) Mn2+ .in
2) Super oxygen redicals 3) High input of energy 4) Light
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NEET-UG 2013
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25. The first stable product of fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in leguminous plants is
1) Glutamate 2) NO2- 3) Ammonia 4) NO3-
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AIPMT 2014
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26. Deficiency symptoms of nitrogen and potassium are visible first in :

1) Senescent leaves 2) Young leaves 3) Roots 4) Buds
Ed

AIPMT 2015
27. Minerals known to be required in large amounts for plant growth include
1) calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper 2) potassium, phosphorus, selenium, boron
3) magnesium, sulphur, iron, zinc 4) phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, calcium
Re-AIPMT 2015
28. During biological nitrogen fixation, inactivation of nitrogenase by oxygen poisoning is prevented by
1) Cytochrome 2) Leghaemoglobin 3) Xanthophyll 4) Carotene
29. The oxygen evolved during photosynthesis comes from water molecules. Which one of the follow-
ing pairs of elements is involved in this reaction?
1) Magnesium and Chlorine 2) Manganese and Chlorine
3) Manganese and Potassium 4) Magnesium and Molybdenum
NEET-I 2016
30. In which of the following, all three are macronutrients?
(1) Boron, zinc, manganese (2) Iron, copper, molybdenum
(3) Molybdenum, magnesium, manganese (4) Nitrogen, nickel, phosphorus
 Mineral Nutrition

1) 2 2) 4 3) 2 4) 1 5) 1 6) 1 7) 2 8) 2 9) 1 10) 2
11) 2 12) 3 13) 1 14) 3 15) 2 16) 2 17) 3 18) 1 19) 2 20) 4
21) 2 22) 3 23) 1 24) 3 25) 3 26) 1 27) 4 28) 2 29) 2 30) 2

1. Which element is an activator of enzyme used in nitrogen fixation ?

1) Mg 2) Mo 3) Zn 4) Cu
2. Sulphur containing amino acid is -
1) Cysteine 2) Aspergine 3) Glutamic acid 4) Tryptophan
3. Microbe producing nitrogen fixing nodule on the roots of non-leguminous plant is -
1) Rhizobium 2) Azotobacter 3) Rhodospirillum 4) Frankia

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4. In the following which is not a function of calcium?
1) Synthesis of cell wall 2) Formation of mitotic spindle
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3) Formation of chlorophyll 4) Normal functioning of cell membrane
5. Symptons of manganese toxicity may actually be the deficiency symptoms of
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1) Iron 2) Magnesium 3) Calcium 4) All the above
6. Which of the following is/are free living in soil, but as symbionts, can fix atmospheric nitrogen ?
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1) Rhizobium 2) Frankia 3) Both (1) and (2) 4) Azotobacter

7. Which element delay flowering if its concentration in plants is low
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1) Nitrogen 2) Sulphur 3) Molybdenum 4) All the above

8. Which of the following group is associated with beneficial elements ?
Ed

1) Na, K, Cl, Ca 2) Na, Se, Si Ca 3) Na, Se, Si, Co 4) N, Se, Si, Co

9. Nitrate assimilation is the
1) Oxidation of NO3 2) Reduction of NO3
3) Reduction of NH4 4) Oxidation of NO3 to NO2
10. Select out the correct match regarding functional categories of essential elements
1) Structural elements  Mg, K, Fe 2) Energy related elements  C,H,O,N
3) Enzyme activation elements  Mo, Mg 4) Osmotic regulation related element  Mg, P
11. Which of the following is not an anaerobic N2 fixing organism ?
1) Azotobacter 2) Clostridium 3) Rhospirillium 4) Rhodopseudomonas
12. Passive absorption of ions usually occurs through
1) Pumps 2) Phospholipids 3) Ion channels 4) All the above
13. Which of following mineral element is needed during the formation of mitotic spindle, accumulates
in older leaves & is involved in normal functioning of cell membrane ?
1) Fe 2) S 3) Ca 4) P
14. Which mineral element is needed for synthesis of Auxin?
1) B 2) Zn 3) Cu 4) Cl
 Mineral Nutrition
15. Which mineral element is required for uptake & utilisation of Ca+2, membrane functioning &
pollen germination ?
1) B 2) Zn 3) Cu 4) Fe
16. Except which of the following, all the other essential nutrients are absorbed in the form of miner-
als?
1) C, H, O 2) N, P, K 3) S, Ca, Mg 4) Mn, Cl, Zn
17. Any mineral ion concentration in tissues that reduces the dry weight of tissues by about 10 percent
is considered as
1) Critical concentration 2) Toxic concentration
3) Beneficial concentration 4) Transition concentration
18. The enzyme, nitrogenase which is capable of nitrogen reduction, is present
1) only in some eukaryotes 2) exclusively in prokaryotes
3) exclusively in eukaryotes 4) in all the living organisms
19. Rhizobium has symbiotic relationship with the roots of
1) Garden pea 2) Alfalfa 3) Sweet clover 4) All of the above

.in
20. During the formation of amides from amino acids
1) COOH part of acid is replaced by NH2 2) NH2 part of acid is replaced by COOH
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3) OH part of acid group is replaced by NH2 4) NH2 part of acid is replaced by OH
21. Mineral absorption is :
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1) Mostly passive with water absorption 2) Mostly passive without water absorption
3) Mostly active 4) Always active
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22. Molybdenum is essential

1) For RuBisCO of cyanobacteria 2) For nitrogenase enzyme
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3) For RuBisCO of eukaryotic organism 4) For transaminase activity

23. Denitrification is carried by bacteria
Ed

1) Rhizobium and Frankia 2) Azotobacter and Beijernickia

3) Pseudomonas and Thiobacillus 4) Rhodospirillum and Bacillus
24. Which of the following criteria not exhibits essentiality of any mineral to plants ?
1) Never substituted by any other mineral
2) Must be directly involved in metabolism of the plant
3) Plants do not complete their life cycle properly in the absence of this mineral
4) Mineral must be present for activity of all enzymes
25. Identify the correct match for column-I, II and III
Column-I Column-II Column-Ill
A) Molybdenum a) Macronutrient i) Middle lamella
B) Zinc b)Micronutrient ii) Stomatal movement
C) Calcium c) Trace element iii)Auxin
D) Potassium d) Macronutrient iv) Nitrate reductase
Options
1) A-d-i, B-b-ii, C-a-iii. D-c-iv 2) A-a-iv, B-d-iii. C-c-ii, D-b-i
 Mineral Nutrition
3) A-b-iv, B-c-iii, C-d-i, D-a-ii 4) A-a-ii, B-b-iv, C-c-i, D-d-iii
26. Identify the correct match :
i) Manganese a) Little leaf disease
ii) Zinc b) Stout axis
iii) Boron c) Splitting of water
iv) Molybdenum d) Nitrogen metabolism
1) i-c, ii-b, iii-a, iv-d 2) i-c, ii-a, iii-b, iv-d 3) i-b, ii-a, iii-d, iv-c 4) i-c, ii-b, iii-d, iv-a
27. Toxicity of ___(A)___ affects the activity and uptake of__(B)__
1) A = Mg, B = Fe, Ca and Zn 2) A = Mn, B = Mg, Ca and Zn
3) A = Mn, B = Mg and Fe 4) A = Mg, B = Mn, Fe and Ca
28. Glutamate dehydrogenase is an important enzyme involved in
1) krebs cycle 2) amino acid biosynthesis
3) nitrogen fixation 4) nitrate reduction
29. Premature fall of leaves and buds is a mineral deficiency symptom occuring in the region where soil
is deficient in

30.
1) phosphorus 2) potassium

.in
3) boron
Which process results in decrease of nitrogen content in soil ?
4) nitrogen
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1) Ammonification 2) Biological nitrogen fixation 3) Denitrification 4) Nitrification
rn
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1) 2 2) 1 3) 4 4) 3 5) 4 6) 3 7) 4 8) 3 9) 2 10) 3
11) 1 12) 3 13) 3 14) 2 15) 1 16) 1 17) 2 18) 2 19) 4 20) 3
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21) 3 22) 2 23) 3 24) 4 25) 3 26) 2 27) 3 28) 2 29) 1 30) 3
Ed

Directions for Assertion & Reason questions

These questions consist of two statements each, printed as Assertion and Reason. While answering these
Questions you are required to choose any one of the following four responses.
A) If both Assertion & Reason are True & the Reason is a correct explanation of the Assertion.
B) If both Assertion & Reason are True but Reason is not a correct explanation of the Assertion.
C) If Assertion is True but the Reason is False.
D) If both Assertion & Reason are false.
1. Assertion : Hydroponics is one of the investigatory method to study mineral requirements of plants.
Reason : By hydroponics essential elements were identified and their deficiency symptoms discovered.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
2. Assertion : In hydroponics nutrient solutions must be adequately aerated.
Reason : Proper aeration donot allow precipitation of minerals.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
3. Assertion : Deficiency of any essential element can not be met by supplying some other elements.
Reason : The requirement of essential element is specific and not replaceable.
 Mineral Nutrition
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
4. Assertion : Boron is one of the essential micro element or trace element.
Reason : Boron is needed in small amount between 10 to 100 m mole kg-1 of dry matter.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
5. Assertion : Potassium plays an important role in opening and closing of stomata.
Reason : In cells K can be found in free form and regulate osmotic potential of cell.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
6. Assertion : Calcium is required by meristematic cells.
Reason : Ca is involved in formation of spindle apparatus.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
7. Assertion : Plants show chlorosis on deficienc. of iron.
Reason : Iron is the structural constituent afl chlorophyll.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
8. Assertion : Boron is essential for sexua reproduction in flowering plants.
Reason : Boron favours germination of poller.I grains which is prerequisite for sexual reproduction I
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
9.
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Assertion : In all plants Mo is essential fori nitrogen metabolism.
Reason : In all plants it is constituent cm nitrogenase enzyme so helps in nitrogen nutrition I
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1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
10. Assertion : The element is said to be deficient when present below the critical concentration.
rn

Reason : The concentration of essential elemera below which plant growth is retarded is termed aa critical
concentration.
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1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
11. Assertion : Deficiency symptoms of NPK first appear on old plant parts.
uj

Reason : NPK are mobile elements so the transport from old parts to young parts.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
Ed

12. Assertion : Deficiency of any element can causq multiple symptoms.

Reason : The same symptoms may be caused by the deficiency of one of the several differed elements.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
13. Assertion : Moderate decrease of micronutrients causes the deficiency symptoms and moderate increase
causes toxicity.
Reason : There is a narrow range of concentration at which micronutrients are optimum.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
14. Assertion : Excess of Mn may induce deficiency of Fe, Mg & Ca.
Reason : Excess of Mn compete with uptake of Fe & Mg and inhibit translocation of Ca to shoot apex.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
15. Assertion : Initial uptake of ions is rapid while second phase of uptake is slow.
Reason : Initial uptake is carried out by apoplastic path while second phase of uptake is carried out by
symplast.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
16. Assertion : Entire ammonia arise from ammonification get converted into nitrates.
Reason : Plant absorb nitrogen exclusively in the form of nitrates.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
 Mineral Nutrition
17. Assertion : Nitrifying bacteria are chemoautotrophs.
Reason : Nitrifying bacteria obtain energy from oxidation of NH3 and NO2
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
18. Assertion : Conversion of nitrate to ammonia takes place in leaves while conversion of NO-3 in to N2 takes
place in soil.
Reason : Enzymes of nitrate assimilation found in leaves, while denitrifying bacteria are restricted in soil.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
19. Assertion : Only certain prokaryotic species are capable of fixing nitrogen.
Reason : Nitrogenase enzyme is present exclusively in prokaryotic cells.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
20. Assertion : Both Rhizobium and Frankia are free living bacteria.
Reason : Both of bacteria fix nitrogen only in symbiotic manner.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
21. Assertion : Enzyme nitrogenase is highly sensitive to the molecular oxygen.
Reason : O2 leads to oxidative denaturation of Fe and Mo-Fe units.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D

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22. Assertion : Nitrogen fixation is one of the energy dependent process.
Reason : 16 ATP are required for each NH3 produced.
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1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
23. Assertion : Transport proteins of root endodermal cells are control points of plant.
rn
Reason : Transport proteins of root endodermal cells adjust the quantity and types of solutes that reach the
xylem.
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1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
24. Assertion : All minerals can not be passively absorbed by the roots.
uj

Reason : Concentration of minerals in soil is usually lower than concentration in root cells.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
Ed

25. Assertion : Active mineral absorption favours passive absorption of water by roots.
Reason : Active mineral uptake is responsible for creation of water potential gradient in roots.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
26. Assertion : Most of the mineral absorption by plant is active process.
Reason : Some ions also move in epidermal cells passively.
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D

1) 1 2) 3 3) 1 4) 3 5) 1 6) 1 7) 3 8) 1 9) 3 10) 1
11) 1 12) 2 13) 1 14) 1 15) 1 16) 4 17) 1 18) 1 19) 1 20) 2
21) 1 22) 3 23) 1 24) 1 25) 1 26) 2 27) 1 28) 1 29) 1 30) 3
Mineral Nutrition

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 Mineral Nutrition

.in
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