Nutrient Solution Application of a Calcium-mobilizing Biostimulant Mitigates Tipburn without Decreasing Biomass of Greenhouse Hydroponic Lettuce

Simple item page
Author(s)Biradar, Kishan
Author(s)Meng, Qingwu
Date Accessioned2024-02-21T21:05:17Z
Date Available2024-02-21T21:05:17Z
Publication Date2024-01-01
DescriptionThis article was originally published in HortScience. The version of record is available at: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17507-23. © American Society for Horticultural Science 2024
AbstractLettuce tipburn is a physiological disorder characterized by marginal necrosis and curling of inner, younger leaves caused by localized calcium deficiency, especially in low evapotranspiration environments that restrict mass flow and thus calcium mobility. Severe tipburn negatively affects the marketability and quality of greenhouse-grown hydroponic lettuce. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of a chemical-based, calcium-mobilizing biostimulant for mitigating lettuce tipburn when applied in hydroponic nutrient solutions. Butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa ‘Rex’) was grown indoors under warm-white light-emitting diodes at a mean photosynthetic photon flux density of 300 μmol⋅m−2⋅s−1 for 11 days. Subsequently, we transplanted seedlings into deep-water-culture hydroponic trays in a greenhouse at an air temperature of 24.6 ± 1.2 °C, relative humidity of 76.2% ± 7.4%, and 20-hour photoperiod with supplemental lighting from high-pressure sodium lamps. The plants were grown in nutrient solutions with and without the biostimulant codenamed CC US-2105 at two concentrations (22 and 220 μL⋅L−1). Data were collected from plant samples at three harvests at 14, 21, and 28 days after transplant (DAT). At 14 DAT, there was no tipburn under any treatments. Compared with the control, the biostimulant at 22 μL⋅L−1 increased shoot dry mass by 31%. At 21 DAT, the biostimulant at 220 μL⋅L−1 eliminated tipburn, and the biostimulant increased shoot fresh weight by 28%, irrespective of the concentration. At 28 DAT, despite sufficient calcium in the whole plant and the remaining nutrient solution, severe tipburn still occurred in plants that did not receive the biostimulant (control). Compared with the control, the biostimulant at the higher concentration of 220 μL⋅L−1 decreased the tipburn rating by 88% and the number of leaves with tipburn by 85%, increased the plant diameter by 11%, increased the total leaf number by six, and accumulated higher levels of manganese and zinc. In contrast, these parameters remained unaffected at the lower biostimulant concentration of 22 μL⋅L−1. At 28 DAT, shoot biomass was unaffected by the biostimulant. In conclusion, the calcium-mobilizing biostimulant is an effective strategy to mitigate hydroponic lettuce tipburn without decreasing biomass accumulation in greenhouse conditions.
SponsorWe thank the University of Delaware Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Innovations in Plant Science Fellowship for partial funding, Drs. Susan Sun and Jason Wall at Croda, Inc., for technical input and support, and William Bartz at the University of Delaware for experimental assistance.
CitationBiradar, Kishan, and Qingwu Meng. "Nutrient Solution Application of a Calcium-mobilizing Biostimulant Mitigates Tipburn without Decreasing Biomass of Greenhouse Hydroponic Lettuce", HortScience 59, 1 (2024): 92-98, https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17507-23
ISSN2327-9834
URLhttps://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/34009
Languageen_US
PublisherHortScience
dc.rightsAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Keywordscalcium mobility
Keywordscontrolled environment
Keywordshydroponics
Keywordsnutrient deficiency
Keywordsnutrient solution management
Keywordszero hunger
Keywordsresponsible consumption and production
TitleNutrient Solution Application of a Calcium-mobilizing Biostimulant Mitigates Tipburn without Decreasing Biomass of Greenhouse Hydroponic Lettuce
TypeArticle
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Nutrient Solution Application of a Calcium-mobilizing Biostimulant Mitigates.pdf
Size:
1.38 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Main article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
2.22 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Open Access Publications
Open Access Publications