Citrus fruits have citric acid, an acidic substance, and they’re the most sour fruits e.g. lemons. Why would plants that grow citrus fruits grow well in places that fight against the acidity (for lack of better words)?
In: Biology
I’ll give this a shot. The chemical composition of fruit is not necessarily determined by the pH of the soil (within the context of your question). The pH of the soil will affect the growth of all individual plants in specific ways sometimes leading to toxicity or deficiency of certain nutrients.
The pH of the soil will have a varying degree on solubility and therefore availability of nutrients that the plant requires to grow, establish and reproduce.
In acidic soils (low pH) for example allows for the solubility of aluminium and therefore, for some plants, access to a passive uptake of aluminium (Al3+). This cause Al toxicity which is usually fatal.
Alkaline soils also affect the amount or availability of specific nutrients that plants require to thrive.
To my knowledge plants are unable to uptake compounds such as citric acid from soils. Chemical compounds are produced via chemical reactions inside plant cells which utilise nutrients taken up via root systems. Photosynthesis is utilised to provide energy to the hard working plant cells allowing for an efficient (if you could call it that) metabolic system.
I hope this clears it up and please discuss if I have anything wrong.
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