Difference Between Variegated Leaf and Etiolated Leaf

The key difference between variegated leaf and etiolated leaf is that variegated leaves are differently coloured leaves while etiolated leaves are small pale yellow-white coloured leaves.

Leaves are the major photosynthetic parts of the plants. They are mostly green in colour. They have abundant chloroplasts filled with chlorophylls. However, there are leaves that possess different colours due to various reasons. Both variegated and etiolated leaves have different coloured leaves since they do not carry out photosynthesis efficiently.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Variegated Leaf 
3. What is an Etiolated Leaf
4. Similarities Between Variegated Leaf and Etiolated Leaf
5. Side by Side Comparison – Variegated Leaf vs Etiolated Leaf in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is a Variegated Leaf?

Variegated leaves are differently coloured leaves. They have green parts as well as non-green leaf parts. In comparison to normal green colour leaves, variegated leaves rarely occur in nature. The variegation is due to the presence of different kinds of tissues. Variegation especially takes place, due to the presence of different pigments, including anthocyanins.

In order to preserve all colours, it is necessary to propagate these plants by vegetative propagation. Variegation is not only seen in leaves. Sometimes it can be seen in stems. Moreover, leaf variegation can also happen due to viral attacks on plants. In addition, nutrient deficiencies also can cause variegation on leaves.

What is an Etiolated Leaf?

Etiolation is a process seen in plants due to lack of light. Etiolated plants have elongated hypocotyls, weak stems and shorter roots. Moreover, the leaves are small and pale yellow coloured.

Etiolated leaves are small and pale yellow coloured leaves of etiolated plants. Etiolated leaves become very small due to long internodes.  These leaves undergo chlorosis due to the production of insufficient chlorophylls. Hence, etiolated leaves are weaker, and they have pale yellowish-white colouration. Moreover, etiolated plants have fewer etiolated leaves. If etiolated plants receive sufficient sunlight, they turn green rapidly.

What are the Similarities Between Variegated Leaf and Etiolated Leaf?

• Variegated leaves and etiolated leaves are two special types of leaves found rarely in nature.
• Both etiolated and variegated leaves have parts that lack chlorophylls.

What is the Difference Between Variegated Leaf and Etiolated Leaf?

Variegated leaf is a leave which has both green and non-green parts. On the other hand, etiolated leaf is a leaf of an etiolated plant which is small and pale yellowish-white in colour. So, this is the key difference between variegated leaf and etiolated leaf. Variegated leaves are differently coloured while etiolated leaves are pale yellowish-white in colour. Variegated leaves rarely occur in nature due to the presence of different kinds of tissues, due to viral attacks and nutrient deficiencies. In contrast, etiolated leaves are frequent, and they occur due to lack of sunlight.

Moreover, another difference between variegated leaf and etiolated leaf is that if sufficient sunlight is provided, etiolated leaves turn green rapidly. But, non-green parts of the variegated leaves do not turn into green when there is sufficient sunlight.

Summary – Variegated Leaf vs Etiolated Leaf

Variegated leaves have both green and non-green parts. They are differently coloured leaves. In contrast, etiolated leaves are small and pale yellowish-white in colour. These leaves are from etiolated plants that are grown without sufficient sunlight. When sunlight is provided, etiolated leaves turn green, unlike variegated leaves. However, variegated leaves are normal while etiolated leaves are weaker. Etiolated leaves originate as a result of insufficient sunlight while variegated leaves are a result of nutrient deficiencies, viral attacks and different tissues. Thus, this summarizes the difference between variegated leaf and etiolated leaf.

Reference:

1. “Variegated Leaf”. Wikipedia, 2020, Available here.
2.  “What Is Etiolation: Learn About Etiolation Plant Problems”. Gardening Know-How, 2020, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Variegated Leaves” By Ben Crowe (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

2. “Etiolated Spanish Bluebells Hyacinthoides Hispanics” By Chiswick Chap – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia