Interveinal yellowing on young leaves indicates a deficiency of which nutrient?

Interveinal yellowing on young leaves indicates a deficiency of which nutrient?

• A. Nitrogen
• B. Iron
• C. Magnesium
• D. Potassium

Answer: (B)

Interveinal yellowing on young leaves signals iron deficiency because iron is not very mobile within the plant. When iron is deficient, the growing tissues between the veins cannot synthesize chlorophyll effectively, so those areas turn yellow while the veins stay green. This pattern is characteristic of micronutrient deficiencies that affect new growth first. In contrast, nitrogen deficiency typically shows uniform yellowing starting with older leaves, magnesium deficiency also affects older leaves with interveinal chlorosis, and potassium deficiency tends to cause edge or tip scorch rather than interveinal yellowing of new leaves. So the symptom described best matches iron deficiency.

Interveinal yellowing on young leaves signals iron deficiency because iron is not very mobile within the plant. When iron is deficient, the growing tissues between the veins cannot synthesize chlorophyll effectively, so those areas turn yellow while the veins stay green. This pattern is characteristic of micronutrient deficiencies that affect new growth first. In contrast, nitrogen deficiency typically shows uniform yellowing starting with older leaves, magnesium deficiency also affects older leaves with interveinal chlorosis, and potassium deficiency tends to cause edge or tip scorch rather than interveinal yellowing of new leaves. So the symptom described best matches iron deficiency.