Re: How do we distinguish viral diseases in plants from deficiency diseases?

Dhanya Radhakrishnan Your question is a very good one. The ability to distinguish between the two is developed with experience, and careful observation. There are not a few short answers than can be stated within a few lines of writing. Doing leaf tissue analysis for major and trace elements is a starting place to eliminate many of the fertility elements, along with a comprehensive soil test for trace elements. Make sure you are using the correct analytical procedures or a competent laboratory. Using quick tests are not a good idea here. Microscopic examination may be necessary to observe the subtle differences, and are most easily taught at the hand of an experienced pathologist or agronomist. Use the process of elemnation and see what is left. I wish there was a positive way to say this is done in a few short steps, but there is not. It takes years of study, and still we make mistakes now and then. Dale Softley CPAg Lincoln, NE