Coffee - Deformation
Symptoms
Deficiency symptoms are visible on younger leaves and on the growing point of the plants.
The leaves are light green and mottled, the new developing leaves have an asymetric shape with uneven margins and necrotic spots.
Furthermore the terminal buds are dying back. The tree produces secondary branches resulting in a deformed, fan-shape bush.
Reasons
Boron deficiency
Calcium deficiency also shows bronzing of the youngest leaves and necrosis of emerging leaves, but bronzing starts at the margins and leaves are cupped downwards. Emerging leaves do not have an asymetric form.
Boron deficiency made worse by
- Sandy soils
- Alkaline soils
- Soils low in organic matter
- High levels of nitrogen
- High levels of calcium
- Cold wet weather
- Periods of drought
Boron is important for
- Improves flower bud development
- Better quality of flowering
- Improves the 'set' of fruit (beans)
