Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard
I'm hoping that adrift, Ohio's Best, sbl, Scot Nelson, turtle, and all of you other well-qualified biologists can help out with this one.
I have read a lot over the years about the role of phosphate in fruiting plants. For bananas, one researcher reports that there is negligible uptake and less than an ounce (net weight) per plant per year is needed. In a UC Davis handbook on peach orchards I read that the role of phosphate is to stimulate root development which in turn makes it possible for the plant to generate a larger volume (number) of flower buds. A report from the plant science department at Cal Poly states that potash works just as well as phosphate for the production of blooms in plumerias (ok, its not a fruiting plant per se).
So what is the current knowledge of the role of phosphate in say: bananas, pit fruits, and subtropicals such as citrus and guavas? |
Good Question!
I do not know all of the roles of P in plants, but one critical role is in energy production and storage. Just like in animals ATP (Adenisine Tri-Phosphate) is the primary energy source for most reactions (like carbon fixation). After photosynthetic apparatus captures a photon the energy is stored as ATP. To drive a reaction that requires energy, the ATP is converted to ADP.
As a gardener (not as a scientist), I have always been told that extra P encourages flowering, while K supports root growth and N leaf growth, but I also know that e xcess P in soil can bind minerals and reduce their availabilaiy.