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Relationship Between Boron and Calcium in Plants

1. Cell Wall Formation

   • Calcium is a key component of plant cell walls, forming calcium pectate, which provides structure.

   • Boron is essential for cross-linking pectic polysaccharides, which stabilizes the calcium-pectate matrix.

   • Without boron, calcium cannot be properly incorporated into the cell wall, making plant tissues weak and prone to cracking.

2. Synergistic Uptake

   • Adequate boron improves calcium uptake and transport in plants.

   • Both calcium and boron are immobile in the phloem, meaning they need to be continuously supplied through the roots to growing parts like fruits and young leaves.

3. Impact on Fruit and Root Development

   • A deficiency in boron can lead to calcium-related disorders, such as blossom-end rot in tomatoes, tip burn in lettuce, or fruit cracking in pomegranates, even if calcium levels are sufficient.

   • Boron is needed to "unlock" calcium's benefits at the cellular level, making it crucial for proper fruit and root development.

4. Enzyme Activation and Membrane Function

   • Boron helps regulate calcium-dependent enzymes and stabilizes plant membranes.

   • In the absence of boron, calcium's cellular functions are impaired, even when calcium is present in adequate amounts.

Practical Application for Farming

• Ensure that both boron and calcium are balanced and available, especially during critical growth stages such as:

  • Early vegetative growth

  • Flowering

  • Fruit and seed development

• Foliar applications of calcium and boron together are often more effective in correcting localized deficiencies in fruiting crops.