Effect of Micronutrient Deficiencies on Plants Stress Responses

Abstract

Low productivity because of limited mineral nutrient supply is common under various environmental conditions. Micronutritional disorders are common nutritional imbalance in plants and affect greatly plants perfor- mance and their response to surrounding environment. Micronutrients defi ciencies exert secondary, often unpredicted infl uences on the growth of plants by changes in growth pattern, chemical composition, and anti- oxidant defense capacity of plants and particularly decrease the resistance of plants to biotic and abiotic environmental stresses. In this chapter, we discuss mechanisms involve in the intensifi cation of damages due to envi- ronmental stress factors caused by micronutritional imbalances. Because of the signifi cant effect of benefi cial elements on plants growth and pro- ductivity under marginal environmental conditions, we present detailed information on how these elements alleviate plants stress injuries.