mineral ions

• several mineral ions which are essential for healthy growth of plants
• these present in soil and are taken up by roots and distributed throughout plant
• calcium


  tissues become soft and plant is likely to wilt
• magnesium


  essential part of chlorophyll molecule, without chlorophyll, plant is unable to photosynthesise so cannot grow
• iron

  leaves become bleached, leading to deficiency in chlorophyll and reduce photosynthesis
• potassium


  essential for the formation of healthy flowers and fruit, leaves lose colour at tips and may curl and crinkle
• nitrate


  needed for healthy growth, plants become short and spindly and deficient in chlorophyll, may wilt and die
• phosphate


  plants grow more slowly, leading to dwarfed or stunted plants
• sulfate


  veins in leaves take a reddish colour, leading to deficiency in chlorophyll, leaves may also become twisted and brittle