Boron
Symptoms of Boron Deficiency
- Thick, curled and brittle tissues
- Growth points can die, forming multiple side shoots
- Cracking, splitting tissues, sometimes with gummosis
- Stunted growth
- Reduced flowering, seed and fruit set
- Small, misshapen fruit
- Aborted flowers/pods
- Loose glumes in cereals
- Internal flesh disorders in fruit and tuber crops (i.e., hallow heart)
Function
- Cell division
- Translocation of Calcium
- Protein synthesis
- Carbohydrate metabolism
- Pollen viability
- Pollen and fruit set and formation
- Hormone formation
Treatment Options
Boron is mobile in the soil and immobile in the plant. A constant supply is recommended throughout the season especially when the young seedlings are developing and during the reproductive stage. Foliar Boron is recommended to guarantee an adequate flowering especially if hot and dry or with high relative humidity; even when sufficient amount of Boron is detected in the soil test. Borate is the preferred form for soil application. However, for foliar only boric acid is available through the leaves