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Which trace elements do plants need in small quantities?
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Plant disease
Potato leaf infected with a fungal blight.
In plant pathology and physiology, plants require certain essential mineral elements in very small quantities, typically 0.01 percent or less of their dry weight. These are referred to as microelements or trace elements.1
The essential microelements required by plants include:
These elements generally function as components or activators of enzymes within the plant. When the supply of these nutrients is insufficient, plants may develop deficiency symptoms, such as stunting, leaf malformation, or chlorosis, which can resemble symptoms caused by infectious pathogens. Conversely, an imbalance or excess of these elements can also lead to noninfectious diseases in crops and ornamental plants.1234