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Calcium localization in lettuce leaves with and without tipburn: comparison of controlled-environment and field-grown plantsAn electron microprobe was used to determine tissue concentrations of Ca across 20-mm-long leaves of 'Green Lakes' crisphead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) with and without tipburn injury. Concentrations within the fifth and 14th leaves, counted from the cotyledons, from plants grown under controlled-environment conditions were compared to concentrations within similar leaves obtained from plants grown under field conditions. Only the 14th leaf from plants grown under controlled-environment conditions developed tipburn. Injured areas on these leaves had Ca concentrations as low as 0.2 to 0.3 mg g-1 dry weight. Uninjured areas of tipburned leaves contained from 0.4 to 0.5 mg g-1 dry weight. Concentrations across the uninjured 14th leaf from field-grown plants averaged 1.0 mg g-1 dry weight. Amounts across the uninjured fifth leaves from both environments averaged 1.6 mg g-1 dry weight. In contrast, Mg concentrations were higher in injured leaves than in uninjured leaves and thus were negatively correlated with Ca concentrations. Magnesium concentrations averaged 4.7 mg g-1 dry weight in injured leaves compared with 3.4 mg g-1 dry weight in uninjured leaves from both environments. Magnesium concentrations were uniform across the leaf. Potassium concentrations were highest at the leaf apex and decreased toward the base and also decreased from the midrib to the margin. Potassium averaged 51 mg g-1 dry weight in injured and uninjured leaves from both environments. No significant differences in K concentration were present between injured and uninjured leaves. This study documented that deficient concentrations of Ca were present in areas of leaf tissue developing tipburn symptoms and that concentrations were significantly higher in similar areas of other leaves that had no symptoms. This study also documented that Ca concentrations were significantly lower in enclosed leaves that exhibited tipburn symptoms than in exposed leaves that did not exhibit tipburn. Also, the amounts of Ca in plants that developed tipburn in controlled environments were lower than in plants of the same cultivar that did not develop tipburn in field plantings. The reduced levels of Ca in plants grown in controlled environments were associated with faster development rates compared with field-grown plants.
Document ID
20040090179
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Barta, D. J.
(University of Wisconsin Madison 53705, United States)
Tibbitts, T. W.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. American Society for Horticultural Science
Volume: 116
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0003-1062
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC2-136
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Number 61-10
NASA Program CELSS
NASA Discipline Life Support Systems

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