Step 1: In cauliflower, molybdenum deficiency produces a characteristic disorder called whiptail, where the leaf blade fails to expand and only the midrib develops.
Step 2: Because this symptom is so distinct and reliable, cauliflower is used as an indicator plant to detect molybdenum deficiency in soil.
Step 3: Zinc, Iron and Nitrogen deficiencies cause other symptoms, not whiptail, so the answer is Molybdenum.