Magnesium is mobile in the plant and the symptoms
are seen first in old leaves. As the deficiency increases yellowing
of the leaves or interveinal chlorosis of new leaves become
obvious. Necrosis or leaves dying is possible in severe cases.
In its advanced form, magnesium
deficiency may superficially resemble potassium deficiency. In the
case of magnesium deficiency the symptoms generally start with
mottled chlorotic areas developing in the interveinal tissue. The
interveinal laminae tissue tends to expand proportionately more
than the other leaf tissues, producing a raised puckered surface,
with the top of the puckers progressively going from chlorotic to
necrotic tissue.