Vegetatively propagated unrooted cuttings of annual ornamentals are typically grown in equatorial locations and shipped via airfreight to propagators locate in temperate climates . Cutting quality , defined as the resistance to external force — such as physical wrong and pathogen infection — has an shock on postharvest enduringness during shipping and extension .
In an effort to preserve the spot - of - sale introduction of these unrooted cuttings , Uttara Samarakoon and James Faust convey a study to key out discussion that will best gain these ornamentals during transportation .
Their determination are present in their clause “ Quantifying the effect of Chelated Calcium and Salicylic Acid on the Postharvest Quality of Poinsettia Cuttings ” useable now as an Open Access article in the February issuance of HortTechnology .
Vegetatively propagated herbaceous cosmetic species typically are started from shoot tip cuttings harvested from line plants , then densely packed into plastic bags and cardboard boxes for delivery . The metre from reap the cutting to their reaching at greenhouses is 48 to 72 hours . Delays during shipping or poor cold - chain of mountains management can lead in leafage chlorosis , folio cutting off , delayed root instauration , and fungal infections .
A goal of the bloodline plant life agriculturist is to produce cut that can resist these physiological and pathogenic problem . agriculturalist through empirical observation evaluate the postharvest lastingness during merchant vessels and propagation and refer to the desired characteristic as “ toning ” , which is defined as the change in leaf texture required to put up resistance to international forces such as physical damage or pathogen infection .
Among the find of this field of study was to key out what methods and applications salutary mitigate that expected deterioration .
During the study , six treatments represent different concentrations of either chelate calcium or salicylic loony toons were applied to poinsettia ‘ Prestige Red ’ line plants . A non - ionic wetter was add to each solution to improve leaf physical contact . All intervention were applied each week to poinsettia inventory industrial plant as a foliar spray to “ glitter ” the leaf . Shoot tip slip were glean each week from the store plants to provide cuttings for depth psychology and to arouse further shoot formation .
Three dissimilar evaluation were performed to determine the treatment effect on plant tissues . The valuation include leaf grain analytic thinking , leaf nutrient depth psychology , and moisture expiration .
say Faust , “ Calcium apply to lobster plant in the cast of chelated Ca proved to ameliorate leaf mechanically skillful military capability . The impact was keen than the atomic number 20 chloride software that we reported in a old study published in HortScience . Therefore , it is recommend to use chelated calcium to stock plant to meliorate resistance to physical damage for lobster plant cuttings . ”
