It is a nutrient that is important for the plant's survival. It helps in metabolism and also nitrogen fixing.
What Does Iron Do In Plants?
Iron is important for chlorophyll formation, necessary for photosynthesis; and also important for respiration
People can often become deficient in iron and develop anaemia, particularly if they are vegetarian of vegan. Plant foods are not generally very good sources of iron but this mineral is a component of many of the enzymes and light energy transferring compounds involved in photosynthesis.
Plants have two major problems with iron as a free ion: it's insoluble and it is toxic. To make sure it can get enough iron from the soil and avoid iron building up to toxic levels in its cells, the plant needs to control iron uptake and movement and homeostasis very closely.
Once inside the plant, the iron is bound up into an inactive form so that it cannot poison the plant tissue. It is transported by being bound to proteins such as nicotianamine and other specialised iron binding proteins.
Uptake and trafficking of iron throughout the plant is a highly integrated process of membrane transport, trafficking between binding proteins and movement through the plant to where the iron is required.
Plants have two major problems with iron as a free ion: it's insoluble and it is toxic. To make sure it can get enough iron from the soil and avoid iron building up to toxic levels in its cells, the plant needs to control iron uptake and movement and homeostasis very closely.
Once inside the plant, the iron is bound up into an inactive form so that it cannot poison the plant tissue. It is transported by being bound to proteins such as nicotianamine and other specialised iron binding proteins.
Uptake and trafficking of iron throughout the plant is a highly integrated process of membrane transport, trafficking between binding proteins and movement through the plant to where the iron is required.