The effect of calcium concentration in nutrient solution on growth and postharvest of lilium in hydroponic cultivation

Subject Areas : Journal of Plant Ecophysiology

R. Ranjbar Shiekhani ¹ , A. Mohammadi Torkashvand ² , A. Mahboub Khomami ³

1 - گروه باغبانی، واحد رشت، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، رشت، ایران
2 - گروه باغبانی، واحد رشت، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، رشت، ایران
3 - ایستگاه تحقیقات گل و گیاهان زینتی لاهیجان، لاهیجان، ایران

Received: 2015-09-26 Accepted : 2015-09-26 Published : 2015-09-01

Keywords: nutrition, nutrients, Cut flower, flower postharvest,

Abstract :

The production of many cut flowers such as Lilium is common in Iran. The flower quality is especially important in Lilium flower production processes which one of the most important factors is appropriate nutrition. For this purpose, a completely randomized design experiment with calcium concentrations including 0, 3 and 6 mM in Hogland solution on growth indices, calcium uptake and postharvest of Lilium with six replications was conducted. The seed bed contained 30% v/v perlite and 70% v/v sand. After three months, stem height, stem diameter, leaf number, fresh and dry weight of shoot, bud number, reproductive height, flower diameter, postharvest and calcium uptake were measured. The results showed that the concentration of 6 mM Ca had the most effect on vegetative height (71.3 cm), reproductive height (23.5 cm), fresh and dry weight of shoot (83.8 and 7.1 cm, respectively) and the number of flowers (4.4). The maximum postharvest life of flowers obtained in 3 mM calcium concentration amounted 15.6 days. The greatest uptake of calcium by shoot was observed in 3 mM Ca treatment (114.1 mg/pot). In general, increasing Ca concentration in nutrient solution led to increase in stem diameter and height, fresh and dry weight of shoot and postharvest life of cut flowers.