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Relation of Molybdenum and Manganese to the Free Amino-Acid Content of the Cauliflower

Abstract

MOLYBDENUM1,2 and manganese3,4 are both believed to be concerned in the chain of reactions beginning with the reduction of nitrates and ending in protein assimilation in higher plants, although they may also have other functions. It has been shown that lack of either element may result in a marked accumulation of nitrates in the leaves of plants. 'Soluble nitrogen' and protein nitrogen fractions also may be less when molybdenum is withheld, but may be nearly normal in the absence of molybdenum when ammonium sulphate is used instead of nitrate as a source of nitrogen2. A relationship between manganese and molybdenum has been reported for flax grown in water culture5,6, where the harmful effects of excess of manganese (and of certain other metals) were reduced by additional amounts of molybdenum.

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HEWITT, E., JONES, E. & WILLIAMS, A. Relation of Molybdenum and Manganese to the Free Amino-Acid Content of the Cauliflower. Nature 163, 681–682 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/163681a0

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