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Abstract
The visual deficiency symptoms developing on plants constitute the ultimate manifestation
of suboptimal nutrient supply. In classical plant nutrition, these symptoms have been
extensively used as a tool to characterise the nutritional status of plants and to
optimise fertilisation. Here we expand this concept by bridging the typical deficiency
symptoms for each of the six essential macronutrients to their molecular and physiological
functionalities in higher plants. We focus on the most recent insights obtained during
the last decade, which now allow us to better understand the links between symptom
and function for each element. A deep understanding of the mechanisms underlying the
visual deficiency symptoms enables us to thoroughly understand how plants react to
nutrient limitations and how these disturbances may affect the productivity and biodiversity
of terrestrial ecosystems. A proper interpretation of visual deficiency symptoms will
support the potential for sustainable crop intensification through the development
of new technologies that facilitate automatised management practices based on imaging
technologies, remote sensing and in-field sensors, thereby providing the basis for
timely application of nutrients via smart and more efficient fertilisation.
[1
]Plant and Soil Science Section Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences Faculty
of Science University of Copenhagen Thorvaldsensvej 40 Frederiksberg CDK‐1871Denmark