Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Zinc as an essential element plays an important role in the balanced integrated nutrition of plants.It is an important microelement for improving the yield and quality of agricultural products, and hence improves animals and human health.Zinc has special physiological functions in all living organisms, such as maintaining the structural and functional integrity of biological membranes, facilitating protein synthesis, gene expression, enzyme synthesis, energy production and the Krebs cycle.Zn deficiency is a universal problem of great importance for agriculture and human health, as a lack of zinc element in the soils reduces crop productivity and qualities, because of the imbalance caused in many physiological functions dependent on zinc and are unable to function normally.The soil factors viz., pH, organic matter, clay percentage, calcium carbonate content are consider as the most important factors that affecting the availability of zinc to plants.Zinc availability in the soils is greatly affected by their total zinc content, organic matter contents, soil moisture status, microbial activity in the rhizosphere, redox conditions, and concentrations of other macro and microelements, especially copper, phosphorus and nitrogen.In arid and semi-arid regions, calcareous soils (rich in calcium carbonate) are widespread, which is distinguished by low zinc availability and consequently low zinc availability and uptake by plants.As zinc is an active element in the biochemical processes, and there are chemical and biological interactions between Zn and some other elements such as phosphorus, iron, copper and nitrogen.Zinc deficiency considered as the most widespread micro nutrient deficiencies in crops and pastures worldwide, which affecting plant growth and causes large losses in crop production and quality.Zn visible deficiency symptoms could be one or more of the following symptoms: interveinal chlorosis, necrotic, bronzing, rosetting of leaves, stunting of plants, dwarf leaves and malformed leaves.Around half of the world's cereal crops are cultivated on zinc-deficient soils; as a result, zinc deficiency in animals and humans is a widespread problem.In many parts of the world zinc deficiency in the early stages of a human's life impaired physical growth, neuro development, brain function, memory, and learning ability.Severe zinc deficiency in human's is characterized by stunting, lack of normal sexual development, impaired immune response, skin disorders, hair loss, loss of appetite, and weak body muscles.Recently, elemental zinc is considered as potential supportive treatment in the therapy of COVD-19 infection.The recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) for zinc as recommended by the Dietary Office of the National Institutes of Health are: 2-3 mg per day for infants, 5 mg per day for children, 8-11 mg per day for adolescents and adults, and 11-13 mg per day for pregnant and lactating women.
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4205575753