BORON AS A FACTOR IN THE CALCIUM METABOLISM OF THE CORN PLANT

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Abstract
The optimum B requirement of maize grown in sand supplied with culture soln. by the continuous flow method lies within a narrow range of concs. approx. limited by the concs. employed in the solns. containing 0.1-0.25 ppm. Presence of adequate available B within the plant tends to maintain the Ca, previously acquired, in an available condition even though no fresh supply of Ca is provided in the substrate. The B content of the substrate. within certain limits, does not influence significantly the Ca absorption rates of the plants. The soluble Ca in com tissues is detd. not by the total Ca of the plants, but by the B content, which, in turn, is detd. by the B content of the substrate. A very large proportion of the B in the plants is in a soluble form. This proportion of soluble B is directly related to the total B in the plants and to the B content of the substrate. The plants grow normally only within the optimum range of B concs. in the substrate and within the corresponding effective range of concs. within the plants. Below this range, plants show pathological symptoms of deficiency, and above this range they exhibit the characteristic symptoms of toxicity. Repeated observations made on the plants indicated that a high fat content together with a low pectin content of the terminal meristem tissues accompanied a condition resembling early maturity of the plant.

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