Question

Mottled chlorosis occurs due to deficiency of:

• A. Sulfur
• B. Nitrogen
• C. Potassium
• D. Phosphorous

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Potassium

The correct option is C.

Explanation of the correct option:

1. Plants lacking enough potassium suffer from mottled chlorosis.
2. A macronutrient called potassium is needed by plants in the form of potassium ions.
3. In plants, potassium is crucial for maintaining the ionic equilibrium, the turgidity of the cell membranes, and the opening and closing of stomata.
4. Mottled chlorosis mostly manifests as yellowing and curling of the leaves, loss of apical dominance, plastid disintegration, etc. in its deficient symptoms.

Explanation of the incorrect options:

Option A:

1. It is necessary for the synthesis of proteins, amino acids, and oils.
2. It is essential for the production of chlorophyll, encourages nodulation in legumes, aids in the development and activation of specific enzymes and vitamins, and serves as a structural element for two of the 21 amino acids that make up protein.

Option B:

1. Because nitrogen is a key component of chlorophyll, which plants utilise to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars when exposed to sunlight, nitrogen is an essential element for plants (i.e., photosynthesis).
2. It is also a crucial part of amino acids, which serve as the building blocks of proteins. Plants wilt and die in the absence of proteins.

Option D:

1. The "energy unit" of plants, ATP, is made up in a large part of phosphorus.
2. Phosphorus is a component of ATP, which is created during photosynthesis and is involved in all stages of plant growth, from the germination of seeds to the creation of grains and maturity.
3. Phosphorus is therefore crucial for the general well-being and vitality of all plants.

Final answer: Mottled chlorosis occurs due to the deficiency of potassium.