Bibliography: leaves 80-102. / 102, [48] leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Investigates the mechanism of uptake of cobalt into plants and the physiological effect. Experiments were conducted with mung beans grown in solution culture but comparision was also made with giant alga, Chara corallina. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Environmental Studies, 1999

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Environmental Studies, 1999. / Bibliography: leaves 80-102.

Bibliography: leaves 80-102. Investigates the mechanism of uptake of cobalt into plants and the physiological effect. Experiments were conducted with mung beans grown in solution culture but comparision was also made with giant alga, Chara corallina.

From Introduction: With the rapidly growing knowledge on trace elements and their influence on plant nutrition the need for accurate and rapid methods for their determination arose. The essential plant nutrients are usually divided into two groups. The major or macronutrient elements, necessary in comparatively large amounts, and the trace or micro-nutrient elements. In the case of plants, the first group includes Sulphur, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium and Nitrogen. The essential trace elements are Iron, manganese, Boron, Copper, Zinc, Molybdenum and Chlorine. Cobalt is essential for animal nutrition as a constituent of Vitamin B₁₂, but its essentiality for plants has not yet been proved. The latter group consists of metals which are catalysts in enzyme reactions and whose presence in the plant in minute amount determines whether the plant will be able to complete the vegetative or reproductive stage of its life cycle. Molybdenum may be quoted as an example of an essential trace element. It is generally recognised to be the catalyst responsible for the fixation of Nitrogen.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 1964. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The influence of manganese sulphate sprays on the yield and ripening of fruit of manganese-deficient Vitis vinifera L. (cv. Pinotage) plants was investigated. Ripening was determined in terms of changes in concentration of the indivi= dual and total sugars and organic acids. Increasing concentrations of manganese sulphate resulted in significant increases in the manganese content of the leaves. The higher levels of manganese were associated with an increase in yield. Ripening, however, was retarded, in that the percentage sugar of the fruit was decreased and titrable acid content increased. The principal sugars present in the fruit were sucrose, glucose, fructose and xylose. Malic and tartaric acids were the main organic acid constituents. Glucose and fructose increased sharply, and sucrose and xylose slightly during ripening of the fruit, whereas malic and tartaric acid de= creased. Glucose, fructose, tartaric and malic acid tended to increase with increasing manganese content. Sucrose and xylose were not appreciably affected. An application of 1% manganese sulphate can be recommend- · ed for manganese deficient vineyards, as it results in an increased yield, in addition to delaying ripening until a more favourable time for handling. Furthermore, the lowered sugar content of the fruit may be advantageous for the pro= duction of dry wines from Pinotage grapes . / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die invloed van mangaansulfaatbespuiting op die opbrengs en vrugrypwording van Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinotage, wat aan ernstige mangaantekorte gely het, is ondersoek. Rypwording is met betrekking tot veranderings in die konsentrasies van totale en indiwiduele suikers en sure bepaal. 2. Toenemende konsentrasies Mnso4 (van O.2% tot l.O%) het n betekenisvolle toename in die mangaangehalte van die blare (van 3 tot 80 d.p.m.) tot gevolg gehad. Die ver= hoogde mangaangehalte het gepaard gegaan met n toe= name in opbrengs, terwyl rypwording vertraag is, deurdat die suikerpersentasie en die titreerbare suurgehalte ver= meerder is in vergelyking met die kontroleplante. 3. Die vernaamste suikers in die vrugte was sukrose, glukose, fruktose en xilose. Glukose en fruktose het vinnig en sukrose en xilose geleidelik toegeneem met die verloop van rypwording. In die ryp vrugte was glukose en fruk= tose oorheersend. Glukose en fruktose was geneig om toe te neem met toenemende mangaangehalte, terwyl sukrose en xilose nie beinvloed is nie. 4. Appelsuur en Wynsteensuur was die oorwegende sure in die vrugte. Beide hierdie sure het gedurende rypwording verminder. Hulle konsentrasies het oor die algemeen toegeneem namate die mangaankonsentrasie verhoog is. 5. Dit is afgelei dat bespuiting met 1.0% MnS04 aanbeveel kan word vir wingerde met mangaantekorte, daar dit n toename in opbrengs, gepaard met 'n vertraging in rypwording tot gevolg gehad het. So 'n vertraging mag moontlik in parstyd voordelig wees. Die verlaagde suikerpersentasie van die vrugte is moontlik gunstig vir die bereiding van droe wyne, waarvoor Pinotage hoofsaaklik gebruik word.

Zinc and manganese have long been considered as essential micronutrients to plant growth, yet the interactions of the two nutrients on growth and development of plants have not been elucidated in their entirety. Silicon is not classed as an essential element, but has been found to improve growth of a number of crops, particularly of the Poaceae family. A simple water culture hydroponic system was developed to monitor the growth and development of a fruit crop (Cucumber – Cucumis sativus) under deficient, adequate and excessive applications of zinc and manganese. Plant growth parameters were monitored including leaf growth, plant height, plant fresh and dry mass, yield, fruit size and fruit mass. Nutrient uptake was also measured using inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, whilst chlorophyll was determined spectrophotometrically. Plant nutrient analyses were also conducted using inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy. Silicon was found to have a beneficial effect on the growth of cucumbers and was incorporated as a treatment for this crop along with zinc and manganese since foliar silicon sprays were able to correct the occurrence of mineral deficiency symptoms. Along with plant growth measurements, nutrient uptake, plant nutrient analysis and chlorophyll determination, plant tissue was also analysed using transmission electron microscopy to establish the impact of silicon applications on the cell ultra-structure of cucumbers. Electron micrographs showed an increased presence of plasmodesmata in treatments excluding silicon. Such increased plasmodesmata connections under silicon deficient conditions could increase translocation of cell solutes due to reduced cell longevity. Results also confirmed the essentiality of zinc and manganese on plant growth and development as typical deficiency symptoms were observed. Typical toxicity symptoms were also recorded. Rates of uptake of nutrients corresponded with leaf growth and enlargement as well as yield. The chlorophyll concentration was not a clear indicator of nutrient application level. Typically, manganese and zinc interacted with iron, magnesium, calcium and potassium, affecting their uptake into the plant dependent on the level of manganese and zinc applied. Although non-essential, silicon improved plant growth, but had neither a relationship with the other nutrients evaluated nor affected the physical growth and development of the plants. Manganese and zinc, as essential to plant growth and development, affect the visual appearance of the plant as well as affect the plant biochemically due to their involvement in many growth and development processes. / Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.