Study of developmental sequence of mineral nutrient deficiency symptoms in oriental tobacco

A sand culture experiment was conducted on developmental sequence of mineral nutrient deficiency symptoms in oriental tobacco. Withholding of different nutrients from the medium resulted in development of characteristic visual symptoms on foliage and growth of plants. Yellowing of whole plant and tip drying of lower leaves were the characteristic symptoms due to N deficiency. Due to P deficiency, the older leaves were dark green, thick and narrow in proportion to length, later they turned to pale yellow color. K deficiency resulted in yellowish mottling on older leaves followed by necrosis at tips and margins of leaf. Calcium deficiency showed unexpanded terminal leaf buds and later growing point dried off. Older leaves showed interveinal chlorosis which commenced at tips and margins and spreading towards the mid rib, later whitish patches were observed on leaf due to magnesium deficiency. Due to sulpher deficiency, terminal leaves showed light green veins of same shade as intervenal tissue.Young leaves were chlorotic with dark green veins as a result of Fe deficiency. Due to B deficiency, plants had short internodes, small deformed leaves at shoot apex and lower leaves were enlarged and leathery.