Light and electron microscopic investigations of the reactions of various genotypes to nutritional disorders

Summary A review is given on light and electron microscopic investigations about the reactions of various genotypes to nutritional disorders such as mineral deficiency and mineral toxicity. Microscopic investigations have been carried out to find initial symptoms of nutritional disorders in plant tissue in order to improve diagnosis and to gain information about disturbed metabolism. Recent investigations have been focussed on changes of cell structure which indicate adaptive mechanisms towards mineral stress in order to explain tolerance and efficiency mechanisms. The influence of mineral deficiency or excess of minerals on the cell structure of different genotypes will be described. Special attention will be drawn to cytological changes in connection with the adaptation of plant genotypes towards mineral stress.