Which nutrient deficiency symptom presents as yellowing between leaf veins in many legumes?

Which nutrient deficiency symptom presents as yellowing between leaf veins in many legumes?

• A. Nitrogen deficiency.
• B. Iron deficiency (interveinal chlorosis).
• C. Potassium deficiency.
• D. Magnesium deficiency.

Answer: (B)

Interveinal chlorosis—the yellowing that appears between leaf veins while the veins stay green—points to iron deficiency. Iron is not mobile within the plant, so the youngest leaves show chlorosis first, a pattern common in legumes, especially in soils where iron availability is limited (like high pH or calcareous soils). The other deficiencies create different patterns: nitrogen tends to cause overall yellowing and overall stunting, potassium shows marginal scorching and edge yellowing, and magnesium can also cause interveinal chlorosis but usually starts on older leaves. So the yellow between the veins in many legumes is characteristic of iron deficiency.

Interveinal chlorosis—the yellowing that appears between leaf veins while the veins stay green—points to iron deficiency. Iron is not mobile within the plant, so the youngest leaves show chlorosis first, a pattern common in legumes, especially in soils where iron availability is limited (like high pH or calcareous soils). The other deficiencies create different patterns: nitrogen tends to cause overall yellowing and overall stunting, potassium shows marginal scorching and edge yellowing, and magnesium can also cause interveinal chlorosis but usually starts on older leaves. So the yellow between the veins in many legumes is characteristic of iron deficiency.