It was observed in an experimental soybean field in Botucatu County (SP), Brazil, that leaves presented yellowish color with purple shades in the leaflets and petioles at grain filling. These symptoms, although not described in soybean, were compatible with general descriptions of phosphorus deficiency. An experiment was conducted in pots with washed sand and nutrient solution to reproduce these symptoms in controlled conditions. Three soybean plants were grown per pot, in an uncontrolled environment. Phosphorus deficiency symptoms were first observed in old leaves that turned yellowish, while some veins remained green. The yellow leaves turned progressively red and then purple and the petioles of deficient leaves collapsed. The grain filling period was very sensitive to P deficiency, but when the deficiency occurred late in the season and was not too severe, yield loss was partially compensated by a lower number of aborted grains and pods as well as by a larger seed size.
mineral deficiency; visual diagnosis; macronutrients; mineral nutrition
