Interveinal Chlorosis

Interveinal chlorosis is a visual condition in cannabis plants where yellowing occurs between leaf veins while veins themselves remain green. This pattern typically indicates nutrient deficiency—most commonly iron, magnesium, or manganese—rather than a terpene or aromatic compound. The condition is important in breeding and cultivation contexts because it signals physiological stress and can affect plant vigor, yield potential, and cannabinoid/terpene expression. Breeders monitor for chlorosis resistance when selecting parent plants, as tolerance to nutrient-limited or pH-imbalanced growing conditions is a valuable trait. Understanding interveinal chlorosis helps cultivators and geneticists distinguish between genetic predisposition to nutrient sensitivity and environmental management issues.

Breeders working with disease and stress tolerance often track chlorosis susceptibility as a marker of nutrient-uptake efficiency. Selecting for lines that resist or delay interveinal chlorosis under standardized conditions can improve overall plant resilience and consistency across growing environments.