The Role of Boron in the Translocation of Sucrose

The Substitution of Complexing Substances for Boron in Plant Growth

“…The productiveness of legumes in such pastures tends to fall sharply after a few years, a process which can be slowed down, but not stopped, by liberal applications of potassium fertilizer (1). Apparently, the potassium accumulating mechanism of legumes cannot compete successfully with that of grasses unless the concentration of the ion is quite high.…”

“…Consideration has been given to the possible existence of a relationship between its biological role in the plant and the capacity of the borate ion to complex with various polyhydroxy and related compounds includingf several of the common sugars (see reviews by Gauch and Dugger (2) and Zittle (14)). Hoagland (3) and Winfield (13) were among the first to call attention to the possibility of such a relationship, and during the past few years experimental work has been directed to determine its nature (1,5,8,10,11). Gauch and co-workers (1,5,8) in particular have studied this problem; they favor the hypothesis that a major function of boron is in sugar translocation by the formation of a sugar-borate complex which passes more readily through membranes.…”

“…Hoagland (3) and Winfield (13) were among the first to call attention to the possibility of such a relationship, and during the past few years experimental work has been directed to determine its nature (1,5,8,10,11). Gauch and co-workers (1,5,8) in particular have studied this problem; they favor the hypothesis that a major function of boron is in sugar translocation by the formation of a sugar-borate complex which passes more readily through membranes. Scripture and MIcHargue (7) have also considered boron as functional in translocation of carbohydrates, but not in light of the formation of a complex.…”

Boron, Lignification and the Origin of Vascular Plants‐a Unified Hypothesis

“…This particular theory was erected despite the fact that sucrose does not possess any m-hydroxyl pairs (Fig. 2), a point admitted by Gauch and Dugger (1953) in their first paper advocating this hypothesis. Addition of borate to sucrose solutions does cause a small alteration in optical rotation but addition of sucrose does not appreciably afi'ect the conductivity of solutions of boric acid (Isbell et al, 1948;Steinberg, 1964).…”

Effect of Supra-Optimal Boron Levels on Respiration and Carbohydrate Metabolism of Helianthus Annuus

“…In recent years the majority of workers have given support to the idea that boron is involved in carbohydrate metabolism (reviewed by Gauch and Dugger, 8). Gauch and Dugger (7,8) suggested that boron facilitates the movement of sugars in the plant by forming a more freely permeable boron-sugar complex or by joining with the cell membrane in a way that makes it more permeable to sugars. Dugger et al (4) noted that boron affected the starch-sugar balance of bean leaf discs, and with potato starch phosphorylase they showed that boron inhibits the reaction: Glucose-1-phosphate--->Starch + inorganic phosphate.…”