What is the Difference Between Variegated Leaf and Etiolated Leaf?

The difference between a variegated leaf and an etiolated leaf lies in their appearance, causes, and effects of sunlight:

Variegated Leaf:

• Appearance: Has zones of different colors, such as green, pink, purple, and yellow.
• Causes: Can be caused by pathological reasons (virus infection), nutritional deficiency, or propagation (crossing two different plant species).
• Effect of Sunlight: The leaf color does not turn green even in sunlight.

Etiolated Leaf:

• Appearance: Has a pale yellowish-white color.
• Causes: Caused by the absence of light, leading to weak, elongated stems and small, pale yellow leaves.
• Effect of Sunlight: Exposure to sunlight turns the leaves green rapidly.

In summary, variegated leaves have differently colored zones due to various reasons, while etiolated leaves are pale yellowish-white in color due to insufficient sunlight. Variegated leaves do not turn green in sunlight, whereas etiolated leaves do.

Comparative Table: Variegated Leaf vs Etiolated Leaf

Here is a table comparing variegated leaves and etiolated leaves:

Variegated leaves have differently colored zones due to various reasons, such as pigmentary, pathological, and propagation factors. In contrast, etiolated leaves are pale yellowish-white in color and originate from plants grown without sufficient sunlight. When etiolated leaves are exposed to sunlight, they rapidly turn green, unlike variegated leaves.