Description
Zinc is an essential component of various enzyme systems for energy production, protein synthesis, and growth regulation. Zinc-deficient plants also exhibit delayed maturity. Zinc is not mobile in plants so zinc- deficiency symptoms occur mainly in new growth. Poor mobility in plants suggests the need for a constant supply of available zinc for optimum growth. The most visible zinc-deficiency symptoms are short internodes (rosetting) and a decrease in leaf size. Chlorotic bands along the midribs of corn, mottled leaves of dry bean and chlorosis of rice are characteristic zinc-deficiency symptoms. Loss of lower bolls of cotton and narrow, yellow leaves in the new growth of citrus also have been diagnosed as zinc deficiencies. Delayed maturity also is a symptom of zinc-deficient plants.
