Chlorosis
is a yellowing of leaves resulting
from a reduction in the amount of chlorophyll, the green
pigment necessary for photosynthesis. The yellow color
may cover the entire leaf, or be restricted to certain
areas with parts of the leaf still green. When only the
spaces between the leaf veins become
pale but the veins themselves remain a normal green,
this is referred to as an interveinal
chlorosis.
Chlorosis is usually a symptom that something is wrong;
however, a few of the oldest leaves becoming yellow may
merely be a normal aging process. Both the pattern of
the yellowing on the individual leaves, and the distribution
of affected leaves on the plant, e.g. the whole plant,
youngest leaves, oldest leaves are often used to aid
in diagnosis. Some possible causes are incorrect soil
pH, nutrient imbalance, unsuitable soil moisture levels,
root problems, overfertilization, disease, insects, and
herbicide injury. The image below illustrates a chlorotic
daylily growing adjacent to a normal green one. In this
particular instance the yellowing is interveinal as opposed
to covering the entire leaf. |