Plant diseases

• Mineral deficiencies can lead to non-communicable diseases
• Mineral deficiencies can be caused by:

  • Inadequate diet
  • Insufficient absorption of minerals
  • Poor utilisation
• Mineral Deficiencies of:

  > Nitrate - Yellow shrivelled up leaves

  > Phosphate - Purple veins, dark green leaves

  > Potassium - Discoloured leaves

  > Magnesium - Yellow coloured leaves

  (ALL WILL STUNT GROWTH)
• Aphids (insect plant pests) are vectors of viruses that cause plant diseases.
• How to detect plant diseases

  > Stunted growth

  > Spots on leaves

  > Areas of rotting

  > Malformed stems

  > Discolouration

  > Presence of pests