What do plants use phosphorus for?
While nitrogen is critical in photosynthesis hence fueling a plant, phosphorus is essential to the distribution and storage of that energy in the form of sugars and starches. Without sufficient phosphorus, plants will be stunted, though the leaves, instead of being pale as they are with insufficient nitrogen, will be purplish from the accumulated sugars created by photosynthesis that cannot be used in the absence of sufficient phosphorus. Phosphorus is involved, at all stages, in the formation of complex biopolymers such as starch and lipids. It helps with energy transfer from the photon to chemical then through out the metabolic paths to assist in energy transfers. ATP/ADP Phosphorus is also critical in basal existence because it is essential to the synthesis of nucleosides. Activated sugars bind purines or pyrimidines to begin nucleotide (building block of DNA molecules.) synthesis. http://www.web-books.
