TRACE EL E MENT PLANT TIS SUE TESTS
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WARNING! This set contains chemicals
that may be harmful if misused. Read
cautions on individual containers
carefully. Not to be used by children
except under adult supervision
MODEL PT-04 • CODE 5261
QUANTITY CONTENTS CODE
30 mL *Manganese Reagent #1 *5262-G
30 mL *Manganese Reagent #2 *5263-G
15 mL *Ferrous Iron Reagent *5264-E
15 mL *Ferrous & Ferric Iron Reagent *5265-E
15 mL *Copper Test Solution *5267-E
30 g *Zinc Reagent Powder *7393-G
60 mL Deionized Water 5115PS-H
50 Copper Test Papers 5266-H
50 Boron Test Papers 5268-H
1 Plastic Bags
(12 perforated, 12 plain)
1 Spoon, 0.5 g, plastic 0698
1 Pipet, 1 mL, plastic 0354
1 Test Tube, plain, glass, w/cap 0231
1 Pipet, plain, plastic w/cap 0357
1 Pipet, plain, glass 0342
1 Pipet, plain, glass w/cap 0341
1 Filter Paper, 100 sheets 0471
*WARNING: Reagents marked with an * are considered to be potential health
hazards. To view or print a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for these
reagents go to www.lamotte.com. To obtain a printed copy, contact LaMotte by
e-mail, phone or fax.
To order a complete set of refill reagents, order as R-5261. To order individual
reagents or test kit components, use the specified code number.
1196
IN TRO DUC TION
Tissue testing is based on the knowledge that, for most nutrients, the first
indication of a deficiency is the disappearance of the nutrient in a soluble
form from the plant sap. Therefore, chemical tests capable of detecting the
presence or absence of a nutrient in the sap can indicate the presence or
absence of a nutritional stress within the plant.
This kit contains trace element tests for ferrous and ferric iron, boron,
manganese, copper, and zinc. These tests are essentially “spot tests” which
are carried out on the plant sap absorbed on filter paper.
For best results, we recommend analysis of material from plants displaying
deficiency or toxicity symptoms and from healthy plants not showing
these effects. In most cases, the nutrient disappears first from the oldest
leaves then from the young leaves, and last from the basal stalk of the
plant. It may be advantageous to test both old and new tissue, but
generally a test should be made on the leaf sheaths or, with very young
plants, on the stalk. For small grains and alfalfa, the stems are used, while
for beets, beans, potato, tomato and geranium, the leaf petioles are used.
COL LEC TION OF PLANT SAP
In these test procedures, sap is expressed from freshly cut plant tissue onto
a strip of filter paper. The chemical tests are then carried out by adding
reagents to the filter paper on which the sap has been absorbed. In the
case of copper and boron, the tests reagents are impregnated in the test
paper strip. The sap is collected in the following manner:
1. Place the plant tissue to be tested in a small, perforated, plastic bag
(1196). This will minimize contact of the green plant tissue with the
paper to reduce staining of the paper.
2. Fold a piece of filter paper (0471) in half and place the small plastic
bag within the fold.
3. Slip the filter paper/plastic bag into a large plastic bag (1196). This is
done to avoid contamination from the pliers.
4. Squeeze with the pliers or press with a flat object until spots of sap
appear on the filter paper.
5. Complete the chemical tests.
NOTE: It is advisable to run a blank test to take into account any
interferences that may occur from the reagents. This is done by performng
the tests on a drop of deionized water at the same time the plant sap is
being tested.
The tests described below largely follow the methods described by Dr. S.R.
Melstead of the University of Illinois.
MAN GA NESE
1. Use plain filter paper (0471) to collect plant sap.
2. Use the glass pipet (0341) to add 1 drop of *Manganese Reagent #1
(5262) to area containing sap. Wait 30 seconds.
3. Use plain pipet (0342) to add one drop of *Manganese Reagent #2
(5263). Wait one minute.
4. The area will turn blue if sufficient manganese is present.
IRON - FER ROUS AND FER RIC
1. Use plain filter paper (0471) to collect plant sap.
2. Use the plastic pipet (0357) to add one drop of *Ferrous Iron Reagent
(5264) to a spot of sap.
3. Add one drop of *Ferrous & Ferric Iron Reagent (5265) to a second
spot of sap.
4. The area(s) will turn red if sufficient iron is present.
ZINC
1. Use plain filter paper (0471) to collect the plant sap.
2. Prepare Zinc Reagent in the following manner:
a. Use the 1.0 mL pipet (0354) to transfer 1 mL of Deionized Water
(5115PS) to a test tube (0231).
b. Use the 0.5 g spoon (0698) to add 0.5 g of *Zinc Reagent Powder
(7393). Mix. The mixture will contain some undisolved material. It
should be discarded at the end of the day.
3. Add one drop of the prepared reagent to the area on the filter paper
containing a spot of sap. Wait 2-3 minutes.
4. The area will turn blue if sufficient zinc is present.
COPPER
1. Use a Copper Test Paper (5266) to collect the plant sap.
2. Add 1 drop of *Copper Test Solution (5267) to an area of the paper
containing a spot of plant sap.
3. The area will turn blue if sufficient copper is present.
BORON
1. Use a Boron Test Paper (5268) to collect the plant sap.
2. Outline a spot of the plant sap with a pencil and mark a spot of
similar size on another strip of test paper. Add one drop of Deionized
Water (5115PS) to second strip.
3. After a few minutes, the area which has the plant sap should turn a
bluish to a purplish color. No color should appear in the deionized
water blank. If a difference of color exists, the plant contains
sufficient boron.
LaMOTTE COM PANY
Helping Peo ple Solve An a lyt i cal Chal lenges
PO Box 329 • Chestertown • Mary land • 21620 • USA
800-344-3100 • 410-778-3100 (Out side U.S.A.) • Fax 410-778-6394
Visit us on the web at www.lamotte.com
®
7/09
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