ROLE OF IRON IN PLANT GROWTH AND METABOLISM

Iron is an essential micronutrient for almost all living organisms because of it plays critical role in metabolic processes such as DNA synthesis, respiration, and photosynthesis. Further, many metabolic pathways are activated by iron, and it is a prosthetic group constituent of many enzymes. An imbalance between the solubility of iron in soil and the demand for iron by the plant are the primary causes of iron chlorosis. Although abundant in most well-aerated soils, the biological activity of iron is low because it primarily forms highly insoluble ferric compounds at neutral pH levels. Iron plays a significant role in various physiological and biochemical pathways in plants. It serves as a component of many…