The boron in most plant cells binds with the pectin in the cell wall. Boron deficiency will cause the cell wall elasticity to be significantly reduced and damage the normal cell elongation of the vigorously growing plant tissue.
Boron deficiency will lead to reduced plant phosphorus uptake, and the ability of plants to absorb phosphorus after boron supplementation will return to normal. Boron deficiency will also damage the ATPase function of root cells, and ATP enzyme function can also be restored after boron supplementation.
Lack of Boron will significantly reduce the content of vitamin C in plants, and the application of boron fertilizer will increase the vitamin C content in plants.
Role of Boron For Plants
Boron is a trace element that plays an essential role in tomato growth. Because it is a necessary component of plant cells, it has an antioxidant function and plays a vital role in plant reproduction, increasing tomato yield, and quality. Boron promotes pollen germination, pollen tube elongation. The demand for boron in vegetables is higher. The regular boron content in tomato ranges from 5 to 36 mg/kg.
Boron Deficiency Symptoms & Causes
Boron-deficient tomato plants are inhibited at the point of growth, internode shortening, plant dwarf, severe dry top phenomenon; petiole and stem vein hardening, becoming brittle; root dysplasia, low degree of lateral root elongation; leaf photosynthesis sugar Substances are challenging to transport; pollen viability is weak; necrotic rust spots appear on the fruit surface.
Boron deficiency leads to impeded cell wall synthesis, poor cell wall ductility, and continuous accumulation of oxides and peroxides, resulting in weak growth and even necrosis in young and vigorous growing tomato plants. The antioxidant capacity of fruits is impaired, and rust stains appear. The functions of stimulating pollen germination and pollen tube elongation were also inhibited in the absence of boron. Boron deficiency also leads to a significant decrease in chlorophyll content, SOD, and POD enzyme activity in tomato leaves, and an increase in MDA content, an increase in the acidity of tomato fruits, a decrease in sweetness, and active substance content of vitamin C, lycopene, flavonoids, and total phenols. Decline, quality is reduced.
Effect of Boron on Tomato Production
Whether it is applied to boron in roots or boron applied to leaves, the application of boron has a significant effect on the vegetative growth and reproductive growth of tomato. In terms of vegetative growth, the roots and stalks of the tomato plants that supplied boron were significantly higher than those of the non-supplying plants. The contents of potassium and calcium in the rhizomes increased, the absorption of nitrogen, potassium, and calcium in the whole plant increased, and the roots did not appear short and thick.
The symptoms of boron deficiency, such as spotting, can maintain the potassium content of the leaves during the fruit development stage (the leaves serve as the fruit’s potassium pool in the fruit development stage); in the aspect of reproductive growth, the application of boron can significantly increase the fruit set rate, total yield and pure fruit of the tomato. Yield, increase the firmness of fruit, extend shelf life, maintain potassium content of leaves while increasing fruit potassium content, and prevent the occurrence of calcium deficiency symptoms in tomatoes such as umbilical rot and longitudinal cracks.