Parachute shaped leaves, Dark veins, dying of growth points results in branching
From the HORT402 manual
Symptoms of calcium deficiency first appear on younger leaves and tissues, growth is inhibited, and plants have a bushy appearance. The youngest leaves are usually small and misshapen with brown chlorotic spots developing along the margins, which spread to eventually unite in the center of the leaves. Veins are also brown, making a typical feature of Ca-deficient plants the dark veins of completely necrotic leaves. Leaves also may be crinkled and torn. The growth of root tips is inhibited in Ca-deficient plants.
Symptoms
- Parachute shaped leaves
- Disformation and dying of tips (meristems). Typically death of root tips. Dying of meristems results in many branches
- Chlorosis among the leaf margins
- Dark veins
Important processes
- Calcium is extremely immobile in the plant and therefore effects new tissue, especially meristems first
- Calcium deficiency is difficult to manage and is often a problem in tomato and pepper production resulting in browning of the fruit tip
- Calcium deficiency can be a problem in acid soils. Sometimes liming of acid soils only results in an increase of the pH in the top horizon (0-30) cm resulting in stunted root growth into deeper layers.
