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Title: ORIENTAL HYBRID LILY CULTIVARS VARY IN SUSCEPTIBILITY TO UPPER LEAF NECROSIS

Author
item YAO-CHIEN, (ALEX) CHANG - NAT TAIWAN UNIV, DPT HORT
item Albano, Joseph
item MILLER, WILLIAM - CORNELL UNIV, DPT HORT

Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/30/2007
Publication Date: 3/1/2008
Citation: Yao-Chien, (., Albano, J.P., Miller, W.B. 2008. Oriental hybrid lily cultivars vary in susceptibility to upper leaf necrosis. Acta Horticulturae. 766:433-440.

Interpretive Summary: Upper leaf necrosis (ULN) in Oriental hybrid lilies (OHL), commonly observed as leaf tip “burn”, is a calcium (Ca) deficiency disorder. In this study, we compared the susceptibility of four OHL cultivars to developing ULN, and investigated some calcium nutrition characteristics that may contribute to ULN susceptibility. We found that 'Star Gazer' and 'Acapulco' are susceptible cultivars, 'Sissi' and 'Alliance' are not, and 'Star Gazer' suffers from more severe ULN than 'Acapulco'. At planting, the Ca concentration in the bulb scales was similar in the four cultivars, approximately 0.03%. However, the susceptible cultivars had lower initial Ca concentration in leaf primordia than the non-susceptible ones, and Star Gazer’ had the lowest. Thirty days after planting, leaf Ca concentration was highest (1.01%) in 'Acapulco', with no difference between the other three cultivars (in the range of 0.54%-0.65%). During this 30-day period, the net Ca gain from the media in 'Acapulco' was 43 mg/plant, about 60% more than other cultivars. The results agreed with the observation that 'Acapulco' had the highest transpiration rate. Shoot growth rate in the most susceptible period for ULN (30-40 days after planting) was 0.18 g•day-1 for 'Star Gazer', 'Acapulco', and 'Sissi’,but only 0.09 g•day-1 for 'Alliance'. Although the low initial Ca concentration in leaf primordia may play a role, it is difficult to isolate a single characteristic to explain the observed cultivar variation to ULN in Oriental hybrid lilies.

Technical Abstract: Upper leaf necrosis (ULN) in Oriental hybrid lilies, commonly observed as leaf tip “burn”, is a calcium (Ca) deficiency disorder. In this study, we compared the susceptibility of four cultivars, 'Star Gazer', 'Acapulco', 'Sissi', and 'Alliance', and investigated some calcium nutrition characteristics that may contribute to ULN susceptibility. We found that 'Star Gazer' and 'Acapulco' are susceptible cultivars, 'Sissi' and 'Alliance' are not, and 'Star Gazer' suffers from more severe ULN than 'Acapulco'. At planting, the Ca concentration in the bulb scales was similar in the four cultivars, approximately 0.03%. However, the susceptible cultivars had lower initial Ca concentration in leaf primordia than the non-susceptible ones, and Star Gazer’ had the lowest. Thirty days after planting, leaf Ca concentration was highest (1.01%) in 'Acapulco', with no difference between the other three cultivars (in the range of 0.54%-0.65%). During this 30-day period, the net Ca gain from the media in 'Acapulco' was 43 mg/plant, about 60% more than other cultivars. The results agreed with the observation that 'Acapulco' had the highest transpiration rate. Shoot growth rate in the most susceptible period for ULN (30-40 days after planting) was 0.18 g•day-1 for 'Star Gazer', 'Acapulco', and 'Sissi’,but only 0.09 g•day-1 for 'Alliance'. Although the low initial Ca concentration in leaf primordia may play a role, it is difficult to isolate a single characteristic to explain the observed cultivar variation to ULN in Oriental hybrid lilies.