Boron Function in Plant Nutrition

Boron continues to be the least understood of all the mineral nutrients in plant nutrition, and what we do know has been discovered mainly by withholding or resupplying after deficiency.¹ This is highly unusually given the fact that plants require more boron than any other micronutrient. There are many roles attributed to boron from sugar transport and cell wall synthesis to respiration and RNA metabolism. This indicates that boron is either involved in many metabolic pathways or has a cascade effect.² Experts agree that boron is likely involved in a combination of these.  

Boron uptake is also not equal across plant species and types, this has led to much discussion about whether boron’s uptake mechanism is active or passive. In older literature boron was described as having limited phloem mobility. This was seen in walnuts where there was a much higher accumulation on boron in leaf tip and margin attributed to transpiration. However, apple trees demonstrate a different story, the distribution of boron is fairly even through the entire leaf. This indicates that apples can move boron within the plant with relative ease.³ 

Since not all plants are equal it is important to choose a solution that can work with various types of plants, and in that transpiration stream. Boro Metalosate® continues to be a superior way to provide boron supplementation to plants to ensure the boron is available for the various processes it effects. Metalosate Boron has demonstrated this efficacy in a wide variety of plants. To understand more about how Metalosate Boron could help your plant nutrition regimen contact a Balchem Plant Nutrition Representative.  

1. ^{Marschner, H. Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants (2nd ed.) (p. 380). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.} 

2. ^{Parr, A. J., & Loughman, B. C. Boron and Membrane Functions in Plants. In D. A. Robb & W. S. Pierpoint, (Eds.), Metals and Micronutrients: Uptake and Utilization by Plants Annu. Proc. Phytochem. Soc. Eur. No. 21; (pp. 87-107). London: Academic Press.} 

3. _{Brown, P. H., & Shelp, B. T. Boron Mobility in Plants. Plant and Soil, 193, 85-101.} 

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