Nutrient Cycling

Manganese toxicity can induce the deficiency of several essential nutrients like iron, magnesium, and calcium in plants.

• Manganese is a micronutrient that plays a key role in photosynthesis, specifically in the water-splitting complex of photosystem II.
• However, when present in excess, manganese toxicity can disrupt the uptake and functioning of other essential nutrients, particularly iron and magnesium, by interfering with their absorption and assimilation in the plant.
• This leads to chlorosis (yellowing of leaves due to iron deficiency) and deficiency symptoms related to magnesium and calcium, such as stunted growth and poor root development.

Other micronutrients like boron (A), zinc (B), and molybdenum (C) have different roles and do not typically induce deficiencies of iron, magnesium, and calcium when toxic.

Thus, the correct answer is (D) : Manganese.