Intermingling patches of green and yellow on a leaf are called what?

• A. Chlorosis
• B. Variegation
• C. Mosaic
• D. Staining

Answer: (C)

Intermingling patches of green and yellow describe a mosaic pattern on the leaf. Mosaic is the term used for a mottled appearance where chlorophyll distribution is irregular, causing alternating areas of light and dark color, often yellowish in patches. This pattern can result from viral infections or certain environmental stresses that disrupt chlorophyll production. It’s different from chlorosis, which is a uniform yellowing across the leaf due to a general loss of chlorophyll, and from variegation, which is typically a stable, inherited pattern with intentional or genetic color splits like green and white patches. Staining refers to surface discoloration from external substances, not an internal, pattern-based change in chlorophyll. So the best description for these intermingled green and yellow patches is mosaic.