deficiency disease

A disease caused by the lack of an essential nutrient element. Mineral deficiencies can often be recognized by characteristic symptoms. For example, nitrogen deficiency results in stunting of the plant and chlorosis of older leaves. Iron deficiency results in interveinal chlorosis, particularly of younger leaves, giving a striped appearance in cereal and grass leaves. Boron deficiency causes the disease of heart rot in sugar beet and mangolds (Beta vulgaris). See also yellows.