Structured Overview of Deficiency Symptoms

🟩 Leaves

🔻 Leaf Loss & Dieback

• Dying shoot tips → Ca, B (strongly documented even in standard works like Resh 2012)
• Leaf loss (secondary) → Ca, B (Cu deficiency rare, rarely primary cause)
• Midday wilt despite water → Ca, root stress (e.g., O₂ deficiency or pH problems). Ca is no longer sufficiently transported due to disrupted transpiration flow (e.g., high humidity).

🌕 Chlorosis (Yellowing)

a) Entire plant / large area

• Yellow old leaves → N, Mg. Old leaves first
• Yellowing of entire plant → N, S, light deficiency, root problems. Classic with nitrogen deficiency: older leaves first
• Slow, even yellowing → S
• Pale new shoots → Fe, S, Mn
• White leaf tips / tip chlorosis → B (often together with Ca). Especially visible on shoot tips
• Faded new shoots with deformed leaves → Fe, Zn, Mn. Often blocked at high pH
• Yellow plant with good light → Root problems, EC too high, pH stress e.g., under anaerobic conditions
• High EC (salt stress) → Ion imbalance blocks uptake of Fe, Mn, Mg etc.
• Light deficiency → Reduces chlorophyll synthesis
• Root stress / Oxygen deficiency → Reduces water and nutrient uptake
• Copper deficiency (rare) → Possible in special crops, but not typical yellowing

b) Intercostal / interveinal chlorosis

• Intercostal chlorosis (between leaf veins) → Mg, Mn, Fe
• Interveinal chlorosis (old leaves) → Mg. Typical for magnesium deficiency – central vein remains green
• Interveinal chlorosis (young leaves) → Fe, Mn, Zn. Micronutrient deficiency or pH-dependent availability

c) Specific at high EC

• Chlorosis and EC above 3 → Salt stress, K excess, antagonisms (e.g., Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg blocked)

🍂 Necrosis / Dying Tissue

• Necrosis on leaf tips → Ca, B, salt stress (especially on youngest leaves)
• Spot necrosis → Mn, B, Cl
• Necrosis on leaf margin → K

🔀 Deformations and Structural Symptoms

• Young leaves deformed → B, Ca, Cu
• Upward rolled leaf edges → K, heat stress
• Twisted leaves or shoots → B, Ca
• Loss of leaf shine → S, P excess
• Purple or violet leaf undersides → P deficiency
• Bronze or reddish-brown spots → Mn, Mg
• Red coloration / Anthocyanin formation → P deficiency, cold, stress

🌿 Shoot / Growth Form

⬇️ Growth Problems

• Stunted growth → B, Ca, Zn
• Dwarfism / short internodes → Zn, Mo
• Growth stop / dwarfism → N, Mo, Zn, Cu
• Soft or brittle stems → Ca, B, K

🌸 Flowers / Fruits

🌼 Flower Problems

• Yellowing at flower tips → B, Fe, Mo
• Flower / fruit deformations or loss → Ca, B

🍅 Fruit Problems

• Cracked or deformed fruits → Ca, B, uneven water availability
• Hollow heart: cavities in the center of the tuber / potato → B, Ca, P, N. Uneven water availability. K supports even cell growth

🌱 Roots

• Root growth inhibited → P, Ca, O₂ deficiency, pH stress

Deficiency Symptoms by Element