This work is a review about the soil and plant metabolic processes in wich manganese is involved. They are been described the chemical state and reactions of manganese in soils, its transport through plant and its functional role in leaf cell. It also has been reported the differentiate capacity between species or even genotypes to absorb and/or utilise manganese which leaded to the classification in: "efficient or susceptible". C4 and C3 plants behaves differently in response to manganese deficiency, and also, monocotyledon and dicotyledon. At the cellular level, manganese is involved as prosthetic group or catalyst in numerous enzymes as for instance in superoxide dismutase. They have been highlighted recent research in the structure and function of manganese in the water splitting system. Finally, a brief summary of the metabolic and visual effects of manganese deficiency and toxicity has been given.

Trabajo realizado al amparo del Proyecto subvencionado por CAICYT. PB 89-0060

Peer reviewed