Name two common nutrients whose deficiencies show interveinal chlorosis.

• A. Iron and manganese
• B. Nitrogen and potassium
• C. Phosphorus and calcium
• D. Magnesium and sulfur

Answer: (A)

Interveinal chlorosis appears as yellowing between the leaf veins while the veins stay green. This pattern is typical of deficiencies in certain micronutrients that aren’t easily moved to new tissue, especially iron and manganese. Iron is essential for chlorophyll formation, so when iron is lacking in the new leaves, chlorophyll synthesis falters between the veins, leaving those areas pale while the veins remain green. Manganese plays a key role in chloroplast function and photosynthesis; without enough Mn, the developing tissue between the veins can’t maintain chlorophyll, producing the same interveinal yellowing pattern. Other nutrients tend to cause different symptoms—nitrogen deficiency, for example, usually gives overall lightening that starts in older leaves, and potassium deficiency often shows marginal scorch. Thus iron and manganese are the nutrients most closely associated with this specific chlorosis pattern.