Nutrient Deficiencies Compared to Citrus Greening

Citrus greening symptoms can easily be mistaken for a nutrient deficiency. Nutrient deficiencies are often symmetrical on each side of the vein whereas, citrus greening is asymmetrical. Below are the symptoms of each the seventeen nutrients needed by citrus trees.

Nitrogen Deficiency

• Occurs on older leaves first then toward the younger leaves
• Light yellowish to green leaves. Mature leaves slowly bleach to a mottled irregular green and yellow pattern, become entirely yellow and then are shed
• Fruit peel is pale and smooth

Phosphorus Deficiency

• Occurs on older leaves first
• Leaves are small and narrow with purplish or bronze discoloration
• Fruit drops before normal harvesting time, hollow core and thicker peel

Potassium Deficiency

• Occurs on older leaves first
• Yellowing of the tips and margins and gets broader
• Smaller fruit size

Calcium Deficiency

• Occurs on mature leaves with young leaves appearing normal
• Leaves lose color along the leaf margins and between the main veins
• Fruit is undersized and misshapen

Magnesium Deficiency

• Occurs on mature leaves with young leaves appearing normal
• Inverted green V-shape surrounded by yellowing
• Fruit yield and quality is reduced; seedy varieties are more Magnesium
• Deficiency severely affected by a magnesium deficiency than seedless varieties

Sulfur Deficiency

• Occurs on new growth
• Pale green to yellow in color
• Fruit peel is pale and smooth

Iron Deficiency

• Occurs on young leaves
• Green veins with the leaf appearing light yellowish to white in color
• Small fruit

Zinc Deficiency

• Occurs first on new growth and remains on leaf as it matures
• Reduced leaf size, narrow leaves, yellow mottled on green background
• Decreased overall fruit yield

Manganese Deficiency

• Occurs on young leaves
• Dark green veins with a lighter green background
• Small, soft fruit

Boron Deficiency

• Occurs on younger leaves first
• Leaves show small water-soaked spots
• Fruit becomes hard and dry

Copper Deficiency

• Occurs on new growth first
• Leaves are uniform in color, long-willow looking leaves, bushy appearance, dieback
• Fruit splitting, gumming

Molybdenum Deficiency

• Occurs on mature leaves first
• Interveinal chlorotic spots in early summer
• Under severe conditions, fruit has large irregular brown
  spots surrounded with yellow discoloration

Nickel Deficiency

• No one has ever seen a nickel deficiency soil-grown plant

Chlorine Deficiency

• No one has ever seen a chlorine deficiency soil-grown plant