Boron (B) deficiency is a rare disorder affecting plants growing above a granite bedrock, which is low in boron. Boron may be present but locked up in soils with a high pH, and the deficiency may be worse in wet seasons.
Symptoms include dying growing tips and bushy stunted growth. Crop-specific symptoms include;
- Beetroot- rough, cankered patches on roots, internal brown rot.
- Cabbage- distorted leaves, hollow areas in stems.
- Cauliflower- poor development of curds, and brown patches. Stems, leafstalks and midribs roughened.
- Celery- leaf stalks develop cracks on the upper surface, inner tissue is reddish brown.
- Pears- new shoots die back in spring, fruits develop hard brown flecks in the skin.
- Strawberries- Stunted growth, foliage small, yellow and puckered at tips. Fruits are small and pale.
- Swede (rutabaga) and turnip- brown or grey concentric rings develop inside the roots.
Other physiological plant disorders include;