Mineral Imbalance

Mineral imbalances (e.g. mineral deficiencies and salinity) can compromise plant development and productivity.

Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient for vascular plants, but the role of this element in plant nutrition is still the least understood of all the mineral nutrients. B is mainly localized in the plant cell wall, where it acts as a cross-linker. This specific role of B is considered to be required for normal leaf expansion, but does not seem to explain all the observed effects of B deficiency in plant physiology. Because B deficiency has dramatic effects in plant development we are studing its effect in model plants. Ca deficiency is being used for comparison purposes, as both B and Ca are described as major mineral components of the cell wall.

Salinity is being studied together with drought in wild relatives of beet-root plants.