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The secret weapon that makes plants stronger: How does potassium control how plants grow and thrive?
Potassium is the major intracellular cation in all cells and plays an important role in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance. Potassium is essential for the function of all biological cells and is therefore present in all plant and animal tissues. It is worth mentioning that its concentration is particularly high in plant cells, and in a mixed diet, most of it is concentrated in fruits. The high concentration of potassium allows it to be separated from plant ashes (i.e. potash), hence its name. As heavy crop production rapidly depletes potassium in the soil, 93% of the potassium in fertilizers applied in modern agriculture comes from the production of potassium compounds.
Potassium is an essential element for plant growth and has a vital impact on its health and yield.
In plants, the major roles of potassium are to provide the ionic environment in the cytoplasm and to serve as a regulator of various processes, including growth regulation. Plants need potassium ions (K+) to synthesize proteins and regulate the opening and closing of stomata, which is achieved by causing the surrounding gatekeeper cells to swell or shrink through proton pumps. A deficiency of potassium ions impairs the plant's ability to maintain these processes. In addition, potassium plays an important role in other physiological processes, such as photosynthesis, protein synthesis, activation of certain enzymes, transport of photosynthetic products, and maintenance of the balance of cations and anions in the cytoplasm and vacuole, which are all indispensable factors for plant growth. .
Meanwhile, in animals, potassium is the major intracellular cation, while sodium is the major extracellular cation. The difference in the concentration of these two charged particles creates a potential difference between the inside and outside of the cell, called the membrane potential. The balance between potassium and sodium is maintained by ion transporters in the cell membrane. All potassium channels are tetramers and have several conserved secondary structural elements. The structures of these potassium channels include voltage-gated, ligand-gated, tandem pore, and inwardly rectifying channels, and are found from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. The cell membrane potential created by potassium and sodium ions enables the cell to generate action potentials, or “spikes” of electrical stimulation. The ability of cells to generate electrical stimulation is essential for bodily functions such as nerve transmission, muscle contraction and heart function.
Potassium and sodium each have unique functions in living organisms, and different plants and animals rely on these elements to survive and thrive.
For diet, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) sets dietary reference intakes for the United States and Canada, including estimated average requirements (EARs) and recommended intake amounts (RDAs). For males and females under 9 years of age, the AIs for potassium are set at 400 mg for infants 0 to 6 months, 860 mg for infants 7 to 12 months, 2000 mg for children 1 to 3 years, and 4 Children up to 8 years: 2300 mg. The AIs for males 9 years and older are: 2,500 mg for males 9 to 13 years, 3,000 mg for males 14 to 18 years, and 3,400 mg for males 19 years and older. For females 9 years and older, the AIs are: 2,300 mg for females 9 to 18 years, and 2,600 mg for females 19 years and older. There are also different regulations for AIs for pregnant and lactating women.
Adequate intake of potassium in the diet is essential for maintaining health, and eating a variety of potassium-rich foods is the best way to get the potassium China needs. Foods high in potassium include kiwi, orange juice, potatoes, coconut, avocado, apricots, parsnips and turnips. Many other fruits, vegetables, beans and meats also contain potassium.
A diet low in potassium may not only put your health at risk, but may also increase your risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.
However, potassium deficiency may lead to high blood pressure, electrolyte imbalance, and in severe cases, potentially fatal hypokalemia. This is often caused by insufficient food intake or loss of potassium through diarrhea, diuresis, or vomiting. Symptoms of hypokalemia include muscle weakness, cramps, and may even cause intestinal paralysis and heart arrhythmia.
In some rare cases, habitual ingestion of large amounts of liquorice (such as licorice candy) may lead to hypokalemia. Compounds in licorice increase potassium excretion. The average intake of adult women in the United States is only half of the AI, while men consume about two-thirds. Overall, less than 5% of adults exceed the AI requirements, and insufficient potassium intake is also a common problem in the EU.
Potassium supplements can cause gastrointestinal upset, and adverse effects may include symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort.
Proper potassium intake is essential for the proper functioning of plants and animals. When designing appropriate agricultural fertilization plans, we should fully consider the use and supplementation of potassium, so as to continuously promote the growth of crops and avoid excessive consumption of soil potassium. Does this also reflect the importance we attach to potassium in our daily diet?
