Towards a Healthy Plant

A “symptom” is the combined external 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.

DS Pitchay JM Frantz JC Locke CR Krause University of Toledo USDA-ARS USDA-ARS USDA-ARS

(66%); - . The plants appear stunted with high concentration may cause foliar injury may cause foliar high concentration COMMENTS Source of N (25 %) and Cl of N (45%); Single source pH substrate will lower cheap, but Source of N (15%) and Ca (22%); pH substrate will increase the bolites (alkaloids), and amino acids. Nitrogen Nitrogen amino acids. (alkaloids), and bolites in green. With prolonged N deficiency, yellowing N deficiency, yellowing prolonged in green. With llowed by leaf tip death and leaf margins developing a developing leaf margins and tip death by leaf llowed a component of nucleic acid, DNA, RNA, genes, acid, DNA, RNA, of nucleic a component

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 200 – 300 ppm RATE nisms, and is required for growth and development. Nitrogen is one of one Nitrogen is for growth and development. and is required nisms, e growth and development of plants of and development e growth NAME Ammonium Nitrate Ammonium Sulfate Ammonium Chloride Potassium Nitrate Phosphate Monoammonium Diammonium Phosphate Urea Calcium Nitrate accounts for about 1 to 6 % of plant dry matter, depending on the species. species. on the depending matter, % of plant dry 6 about 1 to for accounts the main elements in protein. Nitrogen is also Nitrogen is in protein. elements the main enzymes, chlorophyll, secondary chromosomes, meta orga all living essential for Protein is down th slows Nitrogen deficiency leaves rema the upper while leaves, light green lower fo is This occurs. leaves older or lower of (chlorosis) Why do plants need Nitrogen? What happens when Nitrogen is not available to plants? woody. become stems The plant fall off. the leaves some instances In (necrosis). brown discoloration Source of Nitrogen Fertilizers

Nitrogen (N) notes -54%) -54%) 5 O 2 own to dark brown dead tissue. In COMMENTS affecting the leaf size and stem affecting the thickness. As leaf size and stem the older leaves may occur. In most cases, lack of In most cases, lack of older leaves may occur. and NADPH for plant metabolism (photosynthesis and and NADPH for plant metabolism (photosynthesis

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 t of DNA, RNA, nucleotides and cell membrane. and cell RNA, nucleotides t of DNA, RATE leaves develop irregular spots of br leaves develop entation may appear on the under or upper surface of leaf margins, leaf margins, of surface under or upper the on appear may entation NAME Phosphate Monoammonium Diammonium Phospate phosphate Monobasicpotassium phosphate Dibasicpotassium acid Phosphoric provides energy in the form of ATP Phosphorus is a componen Additionally, it respiration). reduced growth with green darker appear Initially, plants in plants. flowering delays phosphorus Why do plants need Phosphorous? What happens when Phosphorous is not available to plants? deficiency continues, the older, lower reddish to purple pigm some plants, of leaf death Eventually, and stems. lower leaves, Source of Phosphorous Fertilizers notes

Phosphorous (P) COMMENTS pH stabilization, drought tolerance, cell turgor, turgor, cell tolerance, drought stabilization, pH are followed by a sudden development of irregular of irregular development followed by a sudden are component of plant organic matter. Potassium is is Potassium organic matter. of plant component and dark green. The plants have short internodes short and dark green. The plants have lower, older leaves and eventually covering whole eventually and leaves older lower,

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%) RATE ched. Also, leaves curl downwards. Also, leaves curl downwards. ched. NAME Potassium chloride Potassium nitrate Potassium sulfate Potassium hydroxide Potassium thiosulfate Monobasic potassium phosphate phosphate Dibasic potassium a not potassium is and phosphorus, Unlike nitrogen are small deficient plants of potassium The leaves Why do plants need Potassium? starch formation, of sugars, movement important for and closing. opening of stomata and regulation enzyme activation, What happens when Potassium is not available to plants? symptoms These appearance. plant resulting in compact of tips and along the leaf margins tissues necrotic scor appear the leaves leaves, making Source of Potassium Fertilizers notes

Potassium (K) ant in cell division, cell in cell division, ant on if calcium is unavailable Calcium source 46% Calcium source Calcium source 32% Calcium source 22% Calcium source 23% Calcium source COMMENTS gnaling. Calcium is import the growing points and young leaves of the plants. and young leaves of the plants. points the growing growth is reduced with tiny black spots appearing growth is reduced with tiny black spots appearing n result in fruit cracking, water soaked tissues or tissues fruit cracking, water soaked n result in rs or flower buds is comm rs or flower 200 ppm 200 ppm 22% Calcium source 36% Calcium source 3 g per liter 3 g per liter 3 g per liter of substrate of substrate of substrate of substrate of substrate 1.5 g per liter 1.5 g per liter RATE

NAME Calcium nitrate Calcium chloride Calcitic limestone Dolomitic limestone Hydrated lime Gypsum during flowering. During fruiting, lack of calcium ca during flowering. During fruiting, lack rot (tomato). end blossom expansion, building of cell walls, stomatal regulation, and cold tolerance. and cold tolerance. regulation, of cell walls, stomatal building expansion, Calcium is required for cell wall structure and cellular si Calcium is required for cell wall structure generally affects of calcium nutrients, lack Unlike other black these cases, some In leaves. young very of tips the on and leaves young of area mid-leaf the around of flowe points. Abortion on the growing appear spots Why do plants need Calcium? What happens when Calcium is not available to plants? wrinkled. The often twisted or The young leaves are Source of Calcium Fertilizers

Calcium (Ca) notes COMMENTS of photosynthesis). Magnesium is also important important also Magnesium is photosynthesis). of and tips, which progresses inward between the leaf and tips, which progresses inward between the leaf between the veins and the leaves curl downwards. and the leaves curl the veins between

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

Magnesium (Mg) notes Sulfur source 18% Sulfur source 30-99% Sulfur source COMMENTS As the symptoms advance, uniform chlorosis spreads spreads uniform chlorosis advance, As the symptoms pigmentation develops anywhere between the young anywhere develops pigmentation nstituent of some essential amino acids such as cystine acids such as cystine amino of some essential nstituent 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. respiration. and plant photosynthesis

NAME Ammonium sulfate Potassium sulfate Magnesium sulfate Calcium sulfate Sulfuric acid Elemental Sulfur Potassium thiosulfate a co it is since synthesis essential in protein Sulfur is of light greenish yellow chlorosis Initially, uniform but rarely on lower, older leaves. and mature leaves, area. the leaf of to the rest Why do plants need sulfur? in also involved and methionine. Sulfur is What happens when sulfur is not available to plants? Source of sulfur Fertilizers

Sulfur (S) notes ecies from the tip. Over the tip. ecies from ional measures are taken. are measures ional

COMMENTS the base, but in some sp the base, but in becomes less interveinal. Even the stems appear becomes less interveinal. ility of Fe is pH dependent; the lower the pH, the the pH, the lower is pH dependent; ility of Fe lorophyll formation. Iron is considered an immobile is considered Iron lorophyll formation. proteins. DNA and RNA synthesis is restricted under is restricted under and RNA synthesis proteins. DNA irreversible even if correct irreversible even ncy symptoms develop on young leaves and shoots. and leaves on young ncy symptoms develop 4 ppm 4 ppm 9-12% Iron source 4 ppm 10% Iron source 4 ppm 6% Iron source 4 ppm 5-9% Iron source 4 ppm 20% Iron source 14% Iron source RATE

NAME Fe - EDTA Fe - DTPA Fe - EDDHA Fe - HEDTA Iron sulfate sulfate Ferrous ammonium Eventually, yellow gives way to white. The bioavailab way to white. The gives yellow Eventually, of iron to plants. and hence the availability higher the solubility chlorotic. At this point, the chlorotic symptoms are are symptoms chlorotic the this point, At chlorotic. time, interveinal chlorosis intensifies and the pattern the pattern intensifies and chlorosis time, interveinal iron deficient environment. Iron is also involved in ch iron deficient environment. Iron is also and as a result, iron deficie plant, element in the Why do plants need iron? and sulfur of heme component Iron is an important What happens when iron is not available to plants? from chlorosis, interveinal leaves develop Generally young Source of iron Fertilizers

Iron (Fe) notes

COMMENTS s followed by stippling of necrosis on recently by stippling of necrosis on recently s followed , greenhouses built close to traffic areas and and areas close to traffic built , greenhouses ssible under Mn-free environments. Mn is the only only the Mn is environments. Mn-free ssible under The formation of free oxygen radicals during water oxygen radicals of free The formation growth is common. Flowering is strongly inhibited. Flowering is strongly growth is common.

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

ozonated water used in irrigation/fertigati ozonated matured leaves. Drastic reduction of shoot and root and root shoot of reduction Drastic matured leaves. summer months as sunny such factors Environmental role in photosynthesis. significant a plays Manganese develop chlorosi The young and recently matured leaves Why do plants need manganese? po oxygen is not ultimately the release of splitting and process. this biochemical for electrons the necessary can contribute element that What happens when manganese is not available to plants? Source of manganese Fertilizers

Manganese (Mn) notes

of bluish-green appears, appears, of bluish-green COMMENTS produced during biochemical processes. It is also produced In some species a tinge species a tinge In some sult of poor xylem tissue development. Chlorosis is is tissue development. Chlorosis xylem of poor sult tissue, with symptoms similar to localized tissue to localized tissue with symptoms similar tissue, high pH or alkaline water may contribute to Cu high pH or alkaline water may contribute to Cu and its mobility is moderate to immobile within the and its mobility in producing ATP the “Biological Currency’. Copper Currency’. Copper the “Biological in producing ATP ired flower development that includes reduced size, reduced that includes development ired flower se of the leaf and spread toward the margins. spread toward se of the leaf and 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% RATE

NAME Copper EDTA Copper HEDTA Copper chloride Copper sulfate monohydrate pentahydrate Copper sulfate Cuprous oxide

generally not a distinguishing feature. Substrate with at the ba initially appear deficiency. Symptoms dehydration, develops on recently mature leaves as a re a as leaves mature recently develops on dehydration, premature abscission, or abortion. Sudden death of death Sudden abortion. or abscission, premature especially over the veins. This is followed by impa followed is This the veins. over especially is required for lignification, especially xylem formation, xylem is required for lignification, especially plant. Why do plants need copper? an important role in quenching the radicals Copper plays are critical and enzymes that of proteins a component What happens when copper is not available to plants? stunted. young and maturing leaves appear Initially, the Source of copper Fertilizers

Copper (Cu) notes

). - 3 COMMENTS inal chlorosis, and necrosis. Some plants develop develop plants Some and necrosis. chlorosis, inal d. A high level of P in the substrate induces Zn induces level of P in the substrate d. A high lved in DNA transcription. This means protein synthesis protein synthesis means This transcription. lved in DNA 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% RATE

d by high pH and bicarbonates (HCO d by high pH and bicarbonates NAME monohydrate Zinc Sulfate heptahydrate Zinc Sulfate Zinc Chloride Zinc nitrate Zinc EDTA Zinc HEDTA One been reported. have proteins 80 zinc-containing over so far, of protein; component Zinc is an integral of them, referred to as ‘Zinc Fingers’, is actively invo requires Zinc. ve matured leaves develop puckering, Young and recently purple pigmentation. Shoot and root growth is reduce purple pigmentation. reduce availability is deficiency. Zn Why do plants need zinc? What happens when zinc is not available to plants? Source of zinc Fertilizers

Zinc (Zn) notes COMMENTS integrity, auxin activity, inhibition inhibition activity, auxin integrity, tive stage. Almost 90% of plant B is stage. Almost 90% tive s 3 to 4 days earlier than the shoot. the shoot. earlier than s 3 to 4 days foliage becomes darker and glossy. becomes darker and glossy. foliage ile primary roots develop thick swollen ile primary roots develop thick swollen roots developing close to the tip giving close to roots developing oot and root meristem, and on young on young and meristem, and root oot ion, cell wall formation and stabilization, and stabilization, wall formation cell ion, minance is a common symptom in the root minance te to take any correctional measures. to take any correctional te 6 ppm 6 ppm 18% Boron source 6 ppm 15% Boron source 15% Boron source RATE NAME acid Boric Borax Solubor in plants for cell divis required Boron is xylem differentiation, membrane lignification, sh on the develop Like Ca, B disorders Why do plants need boron? function, apical meristem acid metabolism, nucleic of callose formation, of Aluminum. effects toxic the and counteracting reproduction, and pollination B requirement during the and species, varies among concentration B The critical vegeta than developmental stage is greater in the cell wall. contained What happens when boron is not available to plants? on the root develop The symptoms leaves. wh and short roots are thick Overall, the secondary numerous short root tips with Meanwhile, symptom. broom” a “witch’s brittle with and thick, leathery leaves become matured Young and recently severe distortions. Lossapical of do it is too la this point, At and shoots. Source of boron Fertilizers notes

Boron (B) The

) assimilation. Therefore, Therefore, ) assimilation. 3 - N) N. It is important in the - N) N. It is important 4 COMMENTS -N) is the sole source of N, and under such and under such source of N, the sole -N) is 3 ly 0.1 ppm in the form of Mo(VI) and is available and is Mo(VI) of in the form ppm ly 0.1 der leaves with interveinal mottling and marginal and marginal mottling der leaves with interveinal upward curling and necrosis of leaf margins. of leaf upward curling and necrosis

0.7 ppm 0.7 ppm 54% source Molybdenum 0.7 ppm 39% source Molybdenum 53% source Molybdenum id, which is required in drought conditions. which id, RATE ncy are similar to N deficiency. ncy are similar NAME Ammonium molybdate Sodium molybdate Molybdic acid biosynthesis of the phytohormone abscisic ac abscisic of the phytohormone biosynthesis

Mo is critical when nitrate is supplied rather than ammoniacal (NH ammoniacal rather than when nitrate is supplied Mo is critical conditions, the symptoms of Mo deficie symptoms the conditions,

only at high pH (> 6.8). It is involved in the initial step of inorganic nitrate (NO inorganic step of the initial in is involved It pH (> 6.8). only at high progress to symptoms the chlorosis. Eventually, (NO nitrate-nitrogen whenever accentuated are symptoms Why do plants need molybdenum? is on plant Molybdenum for healthy of The requirement What happens when molybdenum is not available to plants? ol middle and on the appear symptoms the Generally, Source of molybdenum Fertilizers

(Mo)

Molybdenum notes