Calcium and silicon applications in gerbera daisies and ... · ppm Ca 100, 200, 300 ppm Ca Silicon...
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Calcium and silicon applications in gerbera daisies and their effect against Botrytis cinerea infection Melissa Muñoz, Paul Millar, James E. Faust Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University Background Calcium and silicon sources and treatments Botrytis is the causal agent of Botrytis blight in gerbera daisies. The infection results in tissue necrosis, making the plants and especially the flowers not suitable for marketing. Previous research in our lab has demonstrated the benefits of calcium applications as sprays and dips against Botrytis cinerea infections in petunia and cut rose flowers, respectively. Silicon has been used in several crops to enhance host tolerance against different plant pathogens. The goal of this study is to test Ca and Si as alternative methods for Botrytis blight management in gerbera daisies. Objectives 1. To determine the effectiveness of Ca and Si foliar spray and drench applications in potted gerbera daisies against Botrytis blight 2. To determine the effectiveness of Ca and Si post harvest dips in cut gerbera daisies Foliar sprays Drench Postharvest dips a abc bc abc ab bc c d 0 1 2 3 4 Gray mold severity Ray Florets Salt accumulation observed in all of the Si spray treatments Spray treatment Drench treatment a d cd d d bcd abcd Disc Florets a cde bcd ab ab abc abc 0 1 2 3 4 Ray Florets Results a b c 0 1 2 3 4 Open Semi-open Closed Gray mold severity Disk florets opening stage Mean Flower Severity Postharvest dip treatment bcd bcd abcd cde de abc e 0 1 2 3 4 Ray Florets a ab abcde ab bcde abcde ab Receptacle Mermaid Hot Pink Mette Orange Sweet Smile ab a bc ab a b a bc 0 1 2 3 4 Gray mold severity Ray Florets a ab a a a a b c 0 1 2 3 4 Gray mold severity Ray Florets Visual rating scale Nutrient of interest Source Foliar spray and postharvest dip concentrations Drench concentration Calcium Calcium chloride (Lab grade, 96%) 1000, 2000, 3000 ppm Ca 100, 200, 300 ppm Ca Silicon Potassium silicate (AgSil ® 16H, 53%) 500, 1000, 1500 ppm Si 30, 60, 90 ppm SI Treatment Description Cultivar After harvest Spray and drench Weekly applications during flower formation (3 weeks ) Potted plant: Sweet Smile Inoculation with a Botrytis spore suspension Postharvest dip Weekly applications during flower formation (4 weeks) 1. Commercial cut flower: Mermaid Hot Pink, Mette Orange 2. Potted plant: Sweet Smile 1. Non-artificially inoculated 2. Inoculation with a Botrytis spore suspension Take home Acknowledgments • Gray mold severity and response to Ca and Si treatments in gerbera daisies varied between cultivars and flower structures • No treatment worked effectively in reducing gray mold severity across all floral structures for any cvr. • Disk floret age appears to have an effect in the susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea infection in gerberas.
Transcript of Calcium and silicon applications in gerbera daisies and ... · ppm Ca 100, 200, 300 ppm Ca Silicon...
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Calcium and silicon applications in gerbera daisies and their effect against Botrytis cinerea infection
Melissa Muñoz, Paul Millar, James E. FaustDepartment of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University
Background Calcium and silicon sources and treatments
Botrytis is the causal agent of Botrytis blight in gerbera daisies. The infection results in tissue
necrosis, making the plants and especially the flowers not suitable for marketing.
Previous research in our lab has demonstrated the benefits of calcium applications as sprays
and dips against Botrytis cinerea infections in petunia and cut rose flowers, respectively.
Silicon has been used in several crops to enhance host tolerance against different plant
pathogens.
The goal of this study is to test Ca and Si as alternative methods for Botrytis blight management
in gerbera daisies.
Objectives
1. To determine the effectiveness of Ca and Si foliar spray and drench applications
in potted gerbera daisies against Botrytis blight
2. To determine the effectiveness of Ca and Si post harvest dips in cut gerbera
daisies
Foliar sprays Drench
Postharvest dips
a
abc bc abcab
bc c
d
0
1
2
3
4
Gra
y m
old
se
ve
rity
Ray Florets
Salt accumulation
observed in all of the Si
spray treatments
Spray treatment Drench treatment
a
d cd d d
bcd
abcd
Disc Florets
a
cdebcd
abababc
abc
0
1
2
3
4Ray Florets
Results
ab
c
0
1
2
3
4
Open Semi-open Closed
Gra
y m
old
se
ve
rity
Disk florets opening stage
Mean Flower Severity
Postharvest dip
treatment
bcd bcdabcd
cdede
abc
e
0
1
2
3
4Ray Florets
aab
abcde
ab
bcdeabcde
ab
ReceptacleMermaid Hot PinkMette OrangeSweet Smile
ab abc
ab a b a
bc
0
1
2
3
4
Gra
y m
old
se
ve
rity
Ray Florets
aab a a a a b
c
0
1
2
3
4
Gra
y m
old
se
ve
rity
Ray Florets
Visual rating scale
Nutrient of
interest Source
Foliar spray and
postharvest dip
concentrations
Drench
concentration
Calcium Calcium chloride
(Lab grade, 96%)
1000, 2000, 3000
ppm Ca
100, 200, 300
ppm Ca
Silicon Potassium silicate
(AgSil ® 16H, 53%)
500, 1000, 1500
ppm Si
30, 60, 90
ppm SI
Treatment Description Cultivar After harvest
Spray and
drench
Weekly applications
during flower
formation (3 weeks )Potted plant: Sweet Smile
Inoculation with a
Botrytis spore
suspension
Postharvest
dip
Weekly applications
during flower
formation (4 weeks)
1. Commercial cut flower:Mermaid Hot Pink,
Mette Orange
2. Potted plant: Sweet Smile
1. Non-artificially
inoculated
2. Inoculation with
a Botrytis spore
suspension
Take home Acknowledgments
• Gray mold severity and response to Ca and Si treatments in gerbera daisies varied between cultivars
and flower structures
• No treatment worked effectively in reducing gray mold severity across all floral structures for any cvr.
• Disk floret age appears to have an effect in the susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea infection in gerberas.
