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Effect of calcium on cyclamen pedicel elongation
Author(s) -
Tang Shaohong,
Shi Weiyong,
Wang Hailong,
Luo Ancheng
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.200625209
Subject(s) - pedicel , calcium , biology , horticulture , biophysics , botany , chemistry , organic chemistry
A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the effect of calcium (Ca) supply on pedicel growth of Cyclamen persicum “Metis” during flower development. When flower buds started to develop, four foliar spray Ca treatments were applied, including Ca 0 (no added Ca as control), Ca(NO 3 ) 2 , CaEDTA, and CaEDTA+H 3 BO 3 . Calcium spray treatments significantly reduced the number of short pedicels. There were 62% of the flowers with short pedicels ( i.e. , flower height lower than the foliar height) in the control treatment (Ca 0 ). Short pedicels accounted for 23%, 12%, and 10% in the Ca(NO 3 ) 2 ‐, CaEDTA‐, and CaEDTA+H 3 BO 3 ‐treated plants, respectively. CaEDTA was a more effective Ca source than Ca(NO 3 ) 2 for improving cyclamen pedicel elongation and increasing flower numbers. Additional boron (B) supply may have enhanced Ca translocation within the plant. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that pedicel‐cell structure was severely damaged in the control plants. Pedicel‐cell damage was greatly alleviated in plants treated with Ca(NO 3 ) 2 . No symptoms of cell damage were found in the CaEDTA‐ and CaEDTA+H 3 BO 3 ‐treated plants. Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometer (EDX) analysis confirmed that CaEDTA+H 3 BO 3 and CaEDTA had increased the Ca : O ratios. Therefore, Ca localization in the pedicel cell had a great influence on the pedicel height of cyclamen, and Ca concentration could be a good indicator for undisturbed cyclamen flower development.