Role of Micronutrients in Biochemical Responses of Crops Under Abiotic Stresses

Abstract

Essential micronutrients regulate and change the functioning of plants. The plants show tolerance in diverse ways under abiotic stress conditions, like drought, mineral deficiency, elevated salts concentrations in soil, etc., greatly contributed by the cellular biochemical reactions under suitable availability of micronutrients. Micronutrients such as zinc, copper, manganese, iron, molybdenum, boron and chloride support physiology and biochemical constituents in plants to neutralize the abiotic stresses. Under abiotic stresses, the micronutrients in plants, being constituents of biomolecules, function as an activator of many enzymes, electron carriers, etc. Also, their functions in metabolism regulations, reproduction, and protection against abiotic and biotic stress conditions are very significant. During diverse stress conditions, a large number of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated, and they damage the cellular metabolism of plants. The sufficient micronutrient status protects the plants against ROS by activating the enzymes and biomolecules to become a constituent or activator and directly favour the growth and cellular metabolism. This chapter describes the better interactions of plants and micronutrients for maintaining growth and metabolism and providing tolerance against abiotic stresses through changing the biochemical constituents in plants.