Pollution damage is often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms may mimic which problems?

Pollution damage can manifest in ways that resemble various plant health issues, making it particularly challenging to identify. This is especially true for insect injury and mineral deficiencies, as both can present similar symptoms to those caused by pollution. For example, pollution can lead to leaf discoloration, wilting, or even necrosis—symptoms that are also commonly observed with insect damage or lack of essential minerals.

Insects can cause physical damage to leaves, while mineral deficiencies can lead to stunted growth or changes in leaf color due to inadequate nutrients. Therefore, it becomes crucial for arborists and plant health care professionals to distinguish these overlapping symptoms when diagnosing tree health issues. This understanding helps in formulating appropriate management and remediation strategies.

The other options also involve potentially confused symptoms, but they do not capture the broader range of issues that pollution can mimic as effectively as the combination of insect injury and mineral deficiencies.