- Low supply or complete absence of any of the essential elements will exhibit typical symptoms, which are specific to the particular elements(s).
- This condition is called as nutrient deficiency and the symptoms as deficiency symptoms.
- In absence or low supply of elements (deficiency), following common symptoms generally develop in the plants.
General Deficiency Symptoms
1. Chlorosis:
- It is a physiological disease that occurs due to deficiency of mineral elements. (eg. N, K. Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, S).
- Leaves become abnormally yellow or white due to reduction of chlorophyll contents.
2. Mottling:
- It is a condition of plant surface marked with coloured spots due to anthocyanin pigmentation (eg. due to deficiency of N, K, Mg, P, and S).
3. Necrosis:
- It refers to the patch of dead tissues, due to deficiency of K, Mg, Zn, Ca, Mo, Mn, Fe, or B.
4. Bronzing:
- Development of bronze/copper colour on the leaves and various parts (eg. K)
5. Die back:
- Collapse of growing tip, affecting the youngest leaves and buds (eg. K, Ca, B or Cu)
6. Scorching:
- Burning of tissues accompanied by light brown colour. (eg. K, Ca, B or Cu)
7. Firing:
- Burning of tissues accompanied with dark brown or reddish brown colour (eg. Mg)
8. Rosetting:
- Clustering of leaves due to reduced leaf size and shorter internodal distance (eg. Cu, K, Zn)
9. Distortion of leaves:
- Irregular shaping of leaves like cupping, twisting, hooking or curling and also wavy margins.
- Cupping: B or Mo
- Twisting / Hooking: Zn / Ca / B
- Curling: Ca, B or Zn
- Head distortion: Cu (rice), Mn (Sunflower)
- Wavy: Zn
10. Gummosis:
- Oozing out of cell sap in the form of gummous nature (eg. Cu as in coconut etc.)
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