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Abstract
To determine if direct Ca sprays could affect the distribution and binding of Ca in the leaves and the severity of leaf/bract distortion in two varieties of poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherimma Willd.), we applied either 100 mg.l‐1 or 400 mg.1‐1 of Ca either one time or weekly to leaves of distortion‐ susceptible ('V‐14 Glory') and nonsusceptible ('Annette Hegg Dark Red,’ AHDR) cultivars. Only weekly spraying with 400 mg.l‐1 Ca reduced distortion in V‐14 plants, compared to controls or AHDR plants. Both bound and unbound Ca concentrations were higher in AHDR leaves than in V‐14 leaves, but these differences were not correlated with distortion severity. EDX analysis demonstrated that distorted regions of V‐14 leaves and bracts had lower Ca concentrations than did undistorted regions or AHDR leaves; weekly spraying with 400 mg.l‐1 Ca produced relatively uniform leaf Ca distribution in V‐14 leaves. Localized Ca deficiencies appear to produce the bract/leaf distortion in ‘V‐14 Glory’ plants, and these deficiencies can be partially overcome by weekly Ca spray applications.
Notes
Current address: Pan American Seed Company, Box 438, West Chicago, IL 60185.
Department of Plant Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210.
This research was supported by financial and logistical assistance from the W. R. Grace Chemical Company and Paul Ecke Poinsettias. This study is contribution 26–91 of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.