Pathologist Don Huber says crops usually get enough phosphorus, potassium and other common minerals to grow, but often can't draw sufficient micronutrients from the soil to fend off diseases. Such nutrients include the metals manganese, copper, zinc, iron and boron. Symptoms aren't always apparent.
Micronutrients regulate a plant's physiology.
Not much micronutrient is needed to mobilize a plant's disease resistance, but it is critical. Purdue researchers unveil program to track crop traits. Starting this spring, food manufacturers more easily can track genetically modified, non-food grains and keep them out of corn chips and taco shells by using a system developed at Purdue University. If food processors had to depend entirely on laboratory tests to check grain at the factory, the tests would be too expensive, Vierling says. Processors need a better, cheaper way to track the traits.