Although boron (B) is an element that has long been assumed to be an essential plant micronutrient, this assumption has been recently questioned. Cumulative evidence has demonstrated that the players associated with B uptake and translocation by plant roots include a sophisticated set of proteins used to cope with B levels in the soil solution. Here, we summarize compelling evidence supporting the essential role of B in mediating plant developmental programs. Overall, most plant species studied to date have exhibited specific B transporters with tight genetic coordination in response to B levels in the soil. These transporters can uptake B from the soil, which is a highly uncommon occurrence for toxic elements. Moreover, the current tools available to determine B levels cannot precisely determine B translocation dynamics. We posit that B plays a key role in plant metabolic activities. Its importance in the regulation of development of the root and shoot meristem is associated with plant developmental phase transitions, which are crucial processes in the completion of their life cycle. We provide further evidence that plants need to acquire sufficient amounts of B while protecting themselves from its toxic effects. Thus, the development of in vitro and in vivo approaches is required to accurately determine B levels, and subsequently, to define unambiguously the function of B in terrestrial plants.

尽管长期以来一直认为硼（B）是植物必需的微量营养元素，但近来人们对这一假设提出了质疑。累积证据表明，与植物根部吸收和转运B相关的因素包括一组复杂的蛋白质，用于应对土壤溶液中的B水平。在这里，我们总结了令人信服的证据，这些证据支持B在调解植物发育计划中的重要作用。总体而言，迄今为止研究的大多数植物物种均显示出特定的B转运蛋白，其对土壤中B的含量具有严格的遗传协调性。这些转运蛋白可以从土壤中吸收B，这对于有毒元素而言非常罕见。此外，当前可用于确定B水平的工具无法精确确定B易位动力学。我们假设B在植物代谢活动中起关键作用。它在调节生根和芽分生组织发育中的重要性与植物发育相变有关，这是植物生命周期完成过程中的关键过程。我们提供了进一步的证据，表明植物需要在保护自身免受其毒性影响的同时获取足够量的B。因此，发展体外 和 体内 需要使用方法精确地确定B水平，然后明确定义B在陆地植物中的功能。