锌对植物的作用现在还不完全清楚，已知的是：锌有调节植物体内氧化还原过程的作用，锌能促进生长素(吲哚乙酸)的合成，所以缺锌时芽和茎中的生长素明显减少，植物生长受阻，叶子变小；锌还能促进光合作用，因为扩散到叶绿体中的碳酸需要以锌作活化剂的碳酸酐酶促进其分解出CO2来参与光合作用，同时缺锌时叶绿素含量下降，造成白叶或花叶。此外，有人认为锌也影响蛋白质合成，因为信息核糖核酸结构稳定性需要锌，信息核糖核酸的生理作用之一是合成多肽。

The effect of zinc on plants is not completely clear. What is known is that zinc can regulate the redox process in plants. Zinc can promote the synthesis of auxin (indoleacetic acid). Therefore, when zinc deficiency occurs, the auxin in buds and stems is significantly reduced, plant growth is hindered, and leaves become smaller. Zinc can also promote photosynthesis, because the carbonic acid diffused into chloroplasts needs zinc as an activator Carbonic anhydrase can promote the decomposition of CO2 to participate in photosynthesis. At the same time, when zinc deficiency occurs, chlorophyll content decreases, resulting in white leaves or flower leaves. In addition, some people think that zinc also affects protein synthesis, because the structural stability of information RNA requires zinc, and one of the physiological functions of information RNA is to synthesize peptides.

果树对锌比其他作物敏感。果树缺锌常引起小叶病或叶簇病(即在枝条顶端叶片丛生成簇状，特别是落叶果树；花生也常出现小叶和叶簇病；柑桔嫩叶出现叶脉间退绿成网纹状花叶病；水稻基部叶片出现锈斑；逐渐扩大成条纹，植株萎缩。造成“矮缩病”；玉米易产生叶片失绿，果穗缺粒秃顶。

Fruit trees are more sensitive to zinc than other crops.Zinc deficiency in fruit trees often causes lobular disease or leaf cluster disease (that is, leaves cluster at the top of branches, especially deciduous fruit trees;Leaflet and leaf cluster diseases are also common in peanuts.Citrus young leaves appeared interveined degreening into reticulate Mosaic disease;Rice base leaves appeared rust spots;Gradually expand into stripes, plants atrophy.Causing "dwarf disease";Corn is easy to produce the leaves lose green, the ear is short of grain bald.