Texas FFA Nursery Landscape Practice Exam

Leaves that show interveinal chlorosis probably suffer from which issue?

1. Water Stress

2. Chlorine damage

3. Iron deficiency

4. Nitrogen excess

The correct answer is: Iron deficiency

Interveinal chlorosis, characterized by the yellowing of leaf tissue between the leaf veins while the veins themselves remain green, is a common symptom associated with iron deficiency in plants. Iron is an essential micronutrient that plays a crucial role in chlorophyll synthesis and overall plant health. When there is insufficient iron available in the soil or when the plant is unable to uptake iron due to soil pH being too high (alkaline conditions), this deficiency manifests as interveinal chlorosis. In contrast, water stress typically causes leaves to wilt or turn brown rather than showing the specific pattern of chlorosis. Chlorine damage may lead to leaf burn or necrosis, and nitrogen excess usually results in overall leaf darkening and lush growth rather than interveinal chlorosis. Understanding these symptoms allows for proper diagnosis and treatment of the underlying nutrient issues in plants.