Phosphorus deficiency in plants causes:

Options

A. premature leaf fall
B. purple anthocyanin pigmentation
C. older leaves exhibit deficiency symptoms first
D. all of the above

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Phosphorus Role in Plants**:
- Phosphorus is a vital macronutrient required for various physiological processes in plants, including energy transfer, photosynthesis, and nucleic acid synthesis.

2. **Identifying Symptoms of Phosphorus Deficiency**:
- When there is a deficiency of phosphorus in plants, several symptoms can manifest:
- **Premature Leaf Fall**: Lack of phosphorus can lead to the early shedding of leaves.
- **Purple Anthocyanin Pigmentation**: Deficiency can cause leaves to develop a purple coloration due to the accumulation of anthocyanins.
- **Older Leaves Exhibit Deficiency Symptoms First**: Symptoms typically appear in older leaves before younger ones.

3. **Analyzing the Options Provided**:
- The options given in the question are:
- A) Premature leaf fall
- B) Purple anthocyanin pigmentation
- C) Older leaves exhibit deficiency symptoms first
- D) All of the above
- Each of the first three options describes a symptom of phosphorus deficiency.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Since all the symptoms listed in options A, B, and C are correct manifestations of phosphorus deficiency, the correct answer is:
- **D) All of the above**.

### Final Answer:
Phosphorus deficiency in plants causes: **D) All of the above**.

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