copper

A transition metal (Cu, atomic number 29) with high electrical and thermal conductivity.

Copper is an essential trace element for enzyme function, photosynthesis, and iron metabolism in living organisms.

In plant biology, copper activates enzymes involved in lignin synthesis and is a component of plastocyanin in the electron transport chain.

Excess copper is toxic to plant roots and aquatic organisms, disrupting cellular membranes and inhibiting growth.

Soil copper levels influence microbial community composition and nutrient cycling in agricultural and permaculture systems.

Copper-based fungicides (Bordeaux mixture) have been used in horticulture for over a century to control fungal pathogens.

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