Which nutrient deficiency is shown?

• A. Nitrogen
• B. Phosphorus
• C. Potassium
• D. Calcium

Answer: (B)

Nutrient deficiency symptoms appear in plants with recognizable patterns that point to a specific missing nutrient. Phosphorus deficiency commonly shows up as a purple or reddish coloration on the older leaves, often with stunted overall growth and delayed maturity. This occurs because phosphorus is essential for energy transfer and genetic material, and it is relatively mobile in the plant, so the deficiency symptoms appear first in older tissue as the plant reallocates what phosphorus remains to new growth. The purple tint on the older leaves is a classic sign of this deficiency in many crops.

If the plant showed uniform yellowing starting at the oldest leaves, that would suggest nitrogen deficiency. If the leaf margins showed browning or scorching, potassium deficiency would be more likely. Calcium deficiency tends to affect new growth and can cause issues like tip burn or blossom-end rot in fruits. In this case, the purple discoloration pattern aligns best with phosphorus deficiency.