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Hydroponics: A Versatile System to Study Nutrient Allocation and Plant Responses to Nutrient Availability and Exposure to Toxic Elements
Published on: July 13, 2016
Linking the key physiological functions of essential micronutrients to their deficiency symptoms in plants
Grmay Hailu Lilay1, Noémie Thiébaut1,2, Dorine du Mee1
1Plant and Soil Science Section, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, Frederiksberg C, 1871, Denmark.
Abstract:
In this review, we untangle the physiological key functions of the essential micronutrients and link them to the deficiency responses in plants. Knowledge of these responses at the mechanistic level, and the resulting deficiency symptoms, have improved over the last decade and it appears timely to review recent insights for each of them. A proper understanding of the links between function and symptom is indispensable for an accurate and timely identification of nutritional disorders, thereby informing the design and development of sustainable fertilization strategies. Similarly, improved knowledge of the molecular and physiological functions of micronutrients will be important for breeding programmes aiming to develop new crop genotypes with improved nutrient-use efficiency and resilience in the face of changing soil and climate conditions.
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