Dr. V. Valluvaparidasan Director, Open and Distance Learning TNAU, Coimbatore

1. Dr. V. Valluvaparidasan Director, Open and Distance Learning TNAU, Coimbatore

2. 1. Title Role and Deficiency symptoms of secondary nutrients in Banana 2. Date 25.03.2011 3. Objective To learn about the deficiency symptoms and role of secondary nutrients viz., calcium, magnesium and sulpur in banana crop 4. Target Group Farmers / Extension Workers / Educators / Students

3. 5. Description RLO on Role and Deficiency symptoms of secondary nutrients 6. Duration 10 – 15 minutes 7. Co-Authors P. Santhy 8. Abstract There are three secondary nutrients that play a crucial role in crop nutrition and yield. They are calcium, magnesium and sulphur . This RLO describes about their role and visual symptoms that could describe the deficiency of the particular nutrient.

4. 9. Keywords Protein, Enzymes, Amino acids 10. Complexity Complex 11. Language English

5. Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Secondary Nutrients In Banana

6. Secondary Nutrients are., • Calcium • Magnesium • Sulphur

7. Role of Calcium • Soluble calcium fertilizer plays vital role in production of high-quality fruits crops. • Calcium Uptake can be enhanced by applying of calcium in the soluble form (i.e., calcium nitrate or calcium chloride, either of which is immediately available for uptake). With many rapidly growing crops.

8. Level of calcium is quite high in plant tissues and it is involved in many useful functions • Enzymes responsible for dissolving the middle lamella include polyglacturonases and pectolytic enzymes such as pectatetranseliminase. • Fungal pathogenic infection is also reduced with increased calcium uptake by plants.

9. Deficiency of Calcium • Calcium deficiency symptoms are characterized by narrow bands of marginal chlorosis of lower leaves which gradually turn in to necrotic hollows covering the entire margin and the leaves becomes smaller • Dissolution of the cell wall occur resulting in the accumulation of brown substance in inter-cellular space and vascular tissues which will affect transport mechanism.

10. Root growth retarded, • short • thick • crooked • stubby Multiple buds appear Premature leaf fall

11. Role of Magnesium Mg is the only mineral constituent of chlorophyll, it is important in photosynthesis Regulates phosphate transportation in plants Aids in the accumulation of lecithin a phosphate containing fat. Availability of P elevated by Mg.

12. Interveinal chlorosis extending towards the youngest leaves. Growth of the plant inhibited. Purple mottling of leaf petioles Malformation of leaves and sheaths Leaf yellowing, reduced growth and yield Deficiency of Mg

13. Leaf chlorosis, purple brown spots on the external part of the petiole and poor root development • Fruits of Mg deficient plants do not ripen well and are tasteless. • Upper branches are dwarfed and they begin to die back.

14. Mg deficiency

15. Constituent of S containing amino-acids viz., cystine cystinine methionine Involved in the synthesis of protein and enzymes Functionally important in plant growth Role of Sulphur

16. Activates proteolitic enzymes viz., • Papain • Bromelin Less mobile than N Symptoms first appear on younger leaves

17. Deficiency of Sulphur • Plant growth rate reduced • Plants become rigid and brittle • Stem remains thin

18. Chlorotic symptoms first appear on younger leaves which turn light green to light yellow and inter-nodal length is also shortened. • It is difficult to distinguish sulphur deficiency from nitrogen deficiency for which leaf analysis is essential

19. Summary • The significant role played by secondary nutrients is emphasized in this RLO. The deficiency symptoms caused due to their lesser availability has been represented both visually and with relevant text material • By going through this RLO the learner can update his knowledge on the RLO of secondary nutrients in Banana crop viz., Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur

20. Assessment Choose the correct answer 1. The absence of __________ causes interveinal chlorosis a). Calcium b). Magnesium c). Sulphur 2. Fungal pathogenic infection is reduced by ____ uptake a). Calcium b). Magnesium c). Sulphur

21. 3. Immature ripening and tasteless fruits are formed due to ____ deficiency a). Calcium b). Magnesium c). Sulphur 4. Premature leaf fall of banana is due to the deficiency of a). Calcium b). Magnesium c). Sulphur 5. Malformed root formation is caused by ________ deficiency a). Calcium b). Magnesium c). Sulphur