Towards a Healthy Plant:

A “symptom” is the combined externalLettuce and internal reactions or alterations of a plant in response to it being unhealthy. Such conditions can be initiated by either biotic (living) or abiotic (non-living) causes. Since symptoms are the plant’s response to some “stress”, there are many commonalities in response to differing causes. For example, root discoloration from white to brown or black can be the result of root pathogens, nutritional problems, or a symptom of other physical production problems. Determining the cause requires investigating the suite of symptoms and other clues (i.e. water quality, spray history, nutrient analysis, etc.) before proper corrective action can be taken.

Herein, the suite of visual symptoms related to specific nutritional deficiencies for geranium are described. While useful as a starting point to diagnosing production problems, keep in mind that multiple nutritional disorders often occur simultaneously.

Tel: 419 320 2597 Dharma Pitchay Department of Biological Sciences University of Toledo Email: [email protected]

mes, enzymes, chlorophyll, enzymes, mes, (66%); -

prolonged N deficiency, yellowing (chlorosis) of older or older or (chlorosis) of prolonged N deficiency, yellowing ent of plants. Initially, the primary roots are fewer and roots are fewer the primary of plants. Initially, ent leaf margins developing a brown discoloration (necrosis).In a brown discoloration developing leaf margins , DNA, RNA, genes, chromoso Single source of N (45%); of N (45%); Single source pH substrate will lower cheap, but Source of N (25 %) and Cl Source of N (15%) and Ca (22%); pH substrate will increase the COMMENTS high concentration may cause foliar injury may cause foliar high concentration ogen accounts for about 1 to 6 % of plant dry matter. 1 to 6 % of about for ogen accounts 200 – 300 ppm 200 – 300 ppm substrate pH Single N (33%) source; lowers 200 – 300 ppm and S (24%) of N (21%) Excellent source 200 – 300 ppm 200 – 300 ppm Source of N (13%) and K (44%) 200 – 300 ppm Source of N (10%) and P (50-52%) 200 – 300 ppm Source of N (19%) and P (46-53%) 200 – 300 ppm RATE The leaves and roots become tough. tough. become and roots The leaves ) 3 NO 4 NAME Ammonium Nitrate Ammonium Sulfate Ammonium Chloride Potassium Nitrate Phosphate Monoammonium Diammonium Phosphate Urea* (Do not mix with NH Calcium Nitrate secondary metabolites (alkaloids), and amino acids. Nitr and amino acids. (alkaloids), metabolites secondary appear stunted and are longer. The With lighter plants green. leaf tip death and followed by This is occurs. lower leaves fall off. the leaves some instances need Nitrogen? Why do plants elements in of the main is one Nitrogen growth and development. for living organisms all for essential Protein is is also a component of nucleic acid protein. Nitrogen What happens when Phosphorous is not available to plants? Source and developm the growth down slows Nitrogen deficiency Source of Nitrogen Fertilizers

Nitrogen (N) notes nthesis and respiration). and respiration). nthesis le pigmentation may appear le pigmentation may -54%) -54%) 5 O 2 al. As the deficiency continues, the older, lower leaves leaves the deficiency continues, older, lower al. As COMMENTS entually, leaf death of older leaves may occur. The roots The roots occur. may leaves of older death leaf entually, H for plant metabolism (photosy metabolism plant H for fecting the leaf size and stem thickness. Primary roots are roots Primary and stem thickness. size the leaf fecting . In some instances light purp some instances . In

30 ppm 30 ppm Source of N (10%) and P (50-52%) 30 ppm Source of N (19%) and P (46-53%) 30 ppm P (23%) K (28%) 10 ppm P (18%) K (45%) (P Single P source RATE A, RNA, nucleotides and cell membrane. and cell RNA, nucleotides A, NAME Phosphate Monoammonium Diammonium Phospate phosphate Monobasicpotassium phosphate Dibasicpotassium acid Phosphoric on the surface of leaf margins, lower leaves, and stems. Ev stems. and leaves, lower margins, of leaf surface on the stop growing. and develop discoloration Additionally, it is a component of DN is a component Additionally, it NADP and of ATP form in the energy provides Phosphorus reduced growth af with green Initially, plants appear darker Why do plants need Phosphorous? What happens when Phosphorous is not available to plants? norm roots than and tertiary longer with fewer secondary brown dead tissue brown to dark of spots develop irregular Source of Phosphorous Fertilizers

Phosphorous notes c matter. Potassium is important for Potassium is important for c matter. cell turgor, enzyme activation, and and cell turgor, enzyme activation, by a sudden development of irregular necrotic tissues irregular necrotic tissues of development a sudden by COMMENTS and dark green. The plants have short internodes resulting resulting plants have short internodes green. The and dark are fewer and shorter. The symptoms are quick to develop to develop symptoms are quick The fewer and shorter. are d eventually covering whole leaves, making the leaves appear appear covering whole leaves, making the leaves d eventually indicates the plants are sensitive to potassium. to potassium. sensitive are the plants indicates

50 ppm of K (75%) Single source 200 ppm 200 ppm Source of K (60%) and Cl 100 ppm Source of K (44%) and N (13%) Source of K (50%) and S (18%) 200 ppm 200 ppm Source of K (25%) and S (17%) 100 ppm Source of K (28%) and P (23%) Source of K (45%) and P (18%) is not a component of plant organi is not a component pH stabilization, drought tolerance, drought pH stabilization, RATE NAME Potassium chloride Potassium nitrate Potassium sulfate Potassium hydroxide Potassium thiosulfate Monobasic potassium phosphate phosphate Dibasic potassium regulation of stomata opening and closing. and closing. opening stomata of regulation movement of sugars, starch formation, movement and rapidly progress to an advanced stage. This stage. This advanced and rapidly progress to an scorched. Also, leaves curl downwards. The primary roots The primary roots curl downwards. leaves Also, scorched. in compact plant appearance. These symptoms are followed followed are symptoms These appearance. plant in compact older leaves an tips of lower, margins and along the leaf Why do plants need Potassium? and phosphorus, potassium Unlike nitrogen What happens when Potassium is not available to plants? small are deficient plants potassium of leaves Initially, the Source of Potassium Fertilizers notes

Potassium (K)

d-leaf area of young leaves root axis. Abortion of flowers or of flowers Abortion axis. root g. Calcium is important in cell division, cell expansion, expansion, cell division, in cell is important Calcium g. Calcium source 46% Calcium source Calcium source 23% Calcium source 22% Calcium source COMMENTS k necrosis along the leaf margins. Then the young leaves Then the leaf margins. along the k necrosis k spots appearing around the mi ffects the growing points (root and shoot tips) and young and young tips) shoot and (root the growing points ffects 200 ppm 200 ppm 22% Calcium source 36% Calcium source , necrosis develops along the primary develops , necrosis 3 g per liter 3 g per liter of substrate of substrate of substrate of substrate 1.5 g per liter 1.5 g per liter ailable during flowering. During fruiting, lack of calcium can result in fruit in fruit can result of calcium ailable during flowering. During fruiting, lack RATE NAME Calcium nitrate Calcium chloride Calcium sulfate Dolomitic limestone Hydrated lime flower buds is common if calcium is unav if flower buds is common end rot (tomato). or blossom tissues soaked cracking, water and on the tips of very young leaves. This followed by blac This followed of very young leaves. and on the tips Meanwhile upward in Lettuce. often cupped leaves of the plants. The growth is reduced with tiny blac is reduced of the plants. The growth leaves Calcium is required for cell wall structure and cellular signalin and cellular structure wall Calcium is required for cell a calcium generally of lack nutrients, other Unlike most Why do plants need Calcium? tolerance. and cold regulation, building of cell walls, stomatal What happens when Calcium is not available to plants? Source of Calcium Fertilizers

Calcium (Ca) notes

resses inward between the leaf veins. As the deficiency deficiency the veins. As the leaf between resses inward photosynthesis). Magnesium is also important in enzyme important also Magnesium is photosynthesis). COMMENTS es curl downwards. Eventually, leaf and plant death may death may and plant leaf downwards. Eventually, es curl

lism and movement of carbohydrates and stabilizing cell and of carbohydrates movement and lism

25ppm Magnesium source 11% source 25ppm Magnesium 50 ppm 50 ppm source 9% Magnesium 50 ppm source 10% Magnesium source 25% Magnesium ppear in lower, older leaves with chlorosis of greenish yellow to yellowish to yellowish yellow of greenish chlorosis older leaves with lower, ppear in 3 g per liter source 8-20% Magnesium 1 g per liter source 50-55% Magnesium RATE NAME Magnesium nitrate Magnesium sulfate Magnesium chloride Potassium magnesium sulfate Dolomite Magnesium oxide green developing along the leaf margins and tips, which prog and tips, margins the leaf along green developing and the leav veins between the develops prolongs, necrosis continues. deficiency occur if the magnesium of chlorophyll (pigment Magnesium is a core component a symptoms Normally magnesium deficiency Why do plants need magnesium? in the metabo is involved It reactions. and cofactor membranes. What happens when magnesium is not available to plants? Source of magnesium Fertilizers

Magnesium notes vance, uniform chlorosis spreads to the rest of the leaf leaf of the the rest to spreads uniform chlorosis vance, Sulfur source 18% Sulfur source 30-99% Sulfur source COMMENTS tation develops anywhere between the young and mature and mature between the young develops anywhere tation tituent of some essential amino acids such as cystine and cystine and such as acids amino essential of some tituent 60ppm 13% Sulfur source 60 ppm 60 ppm 24% Sulfur source 18% Sulfur source 30 ppm 33% Sulfur source 30 ppm 17% Sulfur source 1.5 g per 3 g per liter of substrate of substrate of substrate

RATE plant photosynthesis and respiration. and respiration. plant photosynthesis

NAME Ammonium sulfate Potassium sulfate Magnesium sulfate Calcium sulfate Sulfuric acid Elemental Sulfur Potassium thiosulfate

methionine. Sulfur is also involved in is also involved methionine. Sulfur ad symptoms older leaves. As the on lower, leaves, but rarely area. Why do plants need sulfur? Sulfur is essential in protein synthesis since it a cons What happens when sulfur is not available to plants? pigmen of light greenish yellow chlorosis Initially, uniform Source of sulfur Fertilizers

Sulfur (S) notes

ricted under iron deficient e taken. Eventually, yellow yellow Eventually, e taken. progress outwards towards the tip. outwards towards the progress immobile element in the plant, and as immobile element in the becomes less interveinal. Even the petioles appear Even the petioles less interveinal. becomes loped within 5 days of iron nutrient withdrawal from the withdrawal from the loped within 5 days of iron nutrient COMMENTS . DNA and RNA synthesis is rest synthesis and RNA . DNA ible measures ar if correctional 10 ppm 10 ppm 9-12% Iron source 10 ppm 10% Iron source 10 ppm 6% Iron source 10 ppm 5-9% Iron source 10 ppm 20% Iron source 14% Iron source einal chlorosis, from the base, and it einal chlorosis, RATE rophyll formation. Iron is considered an considered Iron is rophyll formation. Fe is pH dependent; the lower the pH, the higher the solubility and hence the and solubility the higher lower the pH, Fe is pH dependent; the

NAME Fe - EDTA Fe - DTPA Fe - EDDHA Fe - HEDTA Iron sulfate sulfate Ferrous ammonium a result, iron deficiency symptoms develop on young leaves and shoots. shoots. leaves and on young develop deficiency symptoms iron a result, environment. Iron is also involved in chlo of The bioavailability white. gives way to availability of iron to plants. Iron deficiency symptoms deve iron to plants. Iron deficiency availability of nutrient solution. The rate at which symptoms occurred is an indication of lettuce sensitivity to Iron. sensitivity of lettuce is an indication occurred symptoms at which The rate nutrient solution. Over time, interveinal chlorosis intensifies and the pattern intensifies chlorosis Over time, interveinal revers are chlorotic symptoms the this point, At chlorotic. Why do plants need iron? and sulfur proteins of heme Iron is an important component What happens when iron is not available to plants? Generally young leaves develop light interv Source of iron Fertilizers

Iron (Fe) notes

uses built close to traffic areas and ozonated water water ozonated areas and traffic to built close uses lorosis followed by stippling of necrosis on recently by stippling of necrosis followed lorosis is common. Flowering is strongly inhibited in tomato. inhibited in tomato. strongly Flowering is common. is COMMENTS rmation of free oxygen radicals during water splitting and splitting during water radicals oxygen rmation of free

10 ppm 20 ppm source 58% Manganese 30 ppm source 24% Manganese source 9-12% Manganese RATE contribute to manganese deficiency. deficiency. to manganese contribute NAME chloride Manganese sulfate Manganese EDTA Manganese

ultimately the release of oxygen is not possible under Mn-free environments. Mn is the only element that can can that element only the Mn is environments. Mn-free under possible not is of oxygen release the ultimately process. for this biochemical necessary electrons contribute the growth shoot and root of Drastic reduction matured leaves. summer months, greenho as sunny such factors Environmental The fo photosynthesis. in role a significant plays Manganese speckled ch develop The young and recently matured leaves Why do plants need manganese? What happens when manganese is not available to plants? may used in irrigation/fertigation Source of manganese Fertilizers notes

Manganese develops on develops recently mature ochemical processes. It is also aIt is also processes. ochemical distinguishing feature. Substrate with feature. Substrate with distinguishing Symptoms appear initially at the base of the leaf and the leaf of at the base initially appear Symptoms COMMENTS localized tissue dehydration, tissue dehydration, localized ucing Currency’. Copper isATP the “Biological required for pment that includes reduced size, premature abscission, or that includes reduced size, premature abscission, or pment 6 ppm 7 ppm Copper source 47% 9 ppm Copper source 35% 3 ppm Copper source 25% Copper source 89% 15 ppm 15 ppm Copper source 9-13% Copper source 9% ching the radicals produced during bi appear stunted. In some species a tinge of bluish-green appears, especially appears, especially bluish-green of species a tinge some In stunted. appear RATE

development. Chlorosis is generally not a generally not is development. Chlorosis ion, and its mobility is moderate to immobile within the plant. to immobile within the plant. is moderate and its mobility ion,

NAME Copper EDTA Copper HEDTA Copper chloride Copper sulfate monohydrate Copper sulfate pentahydrate Cuprous oxide abortion. Sudden death of tissue, with symptoms similar to with symptoms similar death of tissue, Sudden abortion. to Cu deficiency. may contribute high pH or alkaline water the margins. spread toward Copper plays an important role in quen leaves young and maturing the Initially, develo by impaired flower This is followed over the veins. leaves as a result of poor xylem tissue of poor leaves as a result component of proteins and enzymes that are critical in prod proteins and of component lignification, especially xylem format Why do plants need copper? What happens when copper is not available to plants? Source of copper Fertilizers

Copper (Cu) notes chlorosis, and necrosis. Some plants develop purple necrosis. chlorosis, and of P in the substrate induces Zn deficiency. Zn availability induces Zn deficiency. availability of P in the substrate COMMENTS anscription. This means protein synthesis requires Zinc. requires synthesis protein means This anscription. 80 zinc-containing proteins have been reported. One of them, them, One of reported. been have proteins 80 zinc-containing

). 6 ppm Zinc source 49% - 13 ppm 10 ppm Zinc source 36% 13 ppm Zinc source 21% Zinc source 27% 15 ppm 15 ppm Zinc source 9-14% Zinc source 9% 3 RATE

NAME monohydrate Zinc Sulfate heptahydrate Zinc Sulfate Zinc Chloride Zinc nitrate Zinc EDTA Zinc HEDTA

over far, so protein; of component integral an is Zinc in DNA tr as ‘Zinc Fingers’, is actively involved referred to puckering, veinal leaves develop Young and recently matured Why do plants need zinc? What happens when zinc is not available to plants? A high level Shoot and root growth is reduced. pigmentation. (HCO high pH and bicarbonates is reduced by Source of zinc Fertilizers

Zinc (Zn) notes ation, xylem differentiation, ation, xylem differentiation, ort while primary roots develop thick ort while primary roots develop thick leaves. The symptoms develop on the symptoms develop The leaves. age is greater than vegetative stage. Almost 90% of 90% stage. Almost than vegetative age is greater ntly matured leaves become thick, leathery and brittle and brittle thick, leathery ntly matured leaves become cts of Aluminum. The critical B concentration varies of Aluminum. The critical cts symptom in the root and shoots. At this point, it is too too it is point, this At shoots. and root in the symptom ping close to the tip giving a “witch’s broom” symptom. tip giving a “witch’s broom” symptom. to the ping close rmation, nucleic acid metabolism, apical meristem function, apical function, meristem nucleic acid metabolism, rmation, rmation and stabilization, lignific and rmation COMMENTS oot and root meristem, and on young on young and meristem, and root oot oot. Overall, the roots are thick and sh are the roots Overall, oot. 6 ppm 6 ppm 18% Boron source 6 ppm 15% Boron source 15% Boron source RATE rrectional measures. rrectional NAME acid Boric Borax Solubor roots 3 to 4 days earlier than the sh roots 3 to 4 days earlier a common is apical dominance of Loss distortions. with severe any co take late to swollen root tips with numerous short secondary roots develo secondary roots short root tips with numerous swollen Young and rece darker and glossy. becomes Meanwhile, foliage plant B is contained in the cell wall. in the plant B is contained membrane integrity, auxin activity, inhibition of callose fo of callose inhibition activity, auxin membrane integrity, toxic effe reproduction, and counteracting the and pollination st the developmental during B requirement and species, among Why do plants need boron? wall fo cell division, cell for in plants required Boron is What happens when boron is not available to plants? on the sh develop Like Ca, B disorders Source of boron Fertilizers notes

Boron (B) The symptoms are accentuated The symptoms

esis of abscisic acid, the phytohormone ch conditions, the symptoms of Mo deficiency of Mo deficiency the symptoms ch conditions, ) assimilation. Therefore, Mo is critical when nitrate when nitrate Mo is critical Therefore, ) assimilation. in the form of Mo(VI) and is available only at high is available only at high in the form of Mo(VI) and 3 aves with interveinal mottling and marginal chlorosis. chlorosis. and marginal aves with interveinal mottling COMMENTS

curling and necrosis of leaf margins. of leaf margins. and necrosis curling 0.7 ppm 0.7 ppm 54% source Molybdenum 0.7 ppm 39% source Molybdenum 53% source Molybdenum RATE - N) N. It is important in the biosynth - N) N. It is important in 4 itial step of inorganic nitrate (NO nitrate step of inorganic itial -N) is the sole source of N, and under su of N, source sole is the -N) 3 NAME Ammonium molybdate Sodium molybdate Molybdic acid which is required in drought conditions. in drought conditions. which is required is supplied rather than ammoniacal (NH ammoniacal than is supplied rather pH (> 6.8). It is involved in the in pH (> 6.8). It is involved in (NO whenever nitrate-nitrogen only 0.1 ppm of Molybdenum for healthy plant is The requirement middle and older le appear on the symptoms Generally, the Eventually, the symptoms progress to upward symptoms the Eventually, Why do plants need molybdenum? What happens when molybdenum is not available to plants? N deficiency. to are similar Source of molybdenum Fertilizers

Molybdenum notes