Question

Which crop is called micronutrient loving crop?

• A. Litchi
• B. Mango
• C. Apple
• D. Banana

Hint:

To prevent fruit cracking and improve fruit quality in Litchi orchards, growers perform foliar sprays of Borax (\(0.4%\)) or boric acid during the fruit development stage.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Different crops have varying nutrient requirements depending on their physiological development, rooting depth, and fruiting habits.
Crops that are highly sensitive to micronutrient deficiencies and show significant yield increases when treated with trace minerals are called micronutrient-loving crops.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Litchi (Litchi chinensis) is widely referred to as a micronutrient-loving crop:
- Litchi trees require trace minerals—especially zinc (Zn), boron (B), and copper (Cu)—for successful growth, flowering, and fruit development.
- Boron is essential for pollen germination, pollen tube growth, and fruit set.
A deficiency in boron leads to poor fruit set and severe fruit cracking, reducing fruit quality.
- Zinc is required for synthesizing auxin (a plant growth hormone) and regulating enzyme systems.
Deficiencies in zinc cause reduced leaf size ("little leaf") and twig dieback.
- Applying these micronutrients regularly through soil or foliar sprays is essential to maintain orchard productivity and prevent crop losses.
- While mango (B), apple (C), and banana (D) also require micronutrients, litchi's high sensitivity to trace mineral deficiencies makes it the classic "micronutrient-loving crop" in horticultural literature.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The crop called the micronutrient-loving crop is Litchi, matching Option (A).