STUDIES ON NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS OF GERBERA (Gerbera jamesonii L.)
Loading...
Date
2016-07-23
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar, HYD-30
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “ studies on nutritional disorders of
Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) was carried out in Floricultural Research
Institute, A.R.I, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during the year 2015-16 using
hydroponics under shade net to develop and describe the nutrient deficiency
symptoms of N, P, K , Ca, Mg, S, Mn, B, Fe, Zn and Cu. The experiment was
conducted in CRD with 12 treatments and three replications. The influence of
different nutrients on the growth, dry matter production, nutrient content and
uptake were also recorded.
Plants of Gerbera var. Savannah were grown with complete modified
Hoagland solution and nutrient deficiency treatments were induced with a
complete nutrient formula minus one of the nutrients.Withholding of different
nutrients from the nutrient medium resulted in characteristic visual symptoms
on foliage and growth of Gerbera plants. Nitrogen deficiency appeared at 21
DAT which resulted in yellowing of older leaves, P deficiency symptoms
appeared at 30 DAT and deficiency resulted in dark green leaves and highly
affected root system where in tap root was elongated. The K deficiency
symptoms appeared at 30 DAT which appeared as tannish brown necrosis
along the margins of older leaves.
Calcium starved plants expressed deficiency symptoms in younger
leaves at 25 DAT which resulted in leathery, brittle and pale green colour
with whitish spots. Symptoms of Mg deficiency appeared at 32 DAT which
was exhibited as intervienal chlorosis on older leaves. Sulphur deficiency
symptoms appeared at 40 DAT and showed uniform chlorosis on younger
leaves.
Among micronutrients, plants grown in Mn deficient treatment did not
express visual deficiency symptoms. Boron deficiency symptoms resulted in
marginal necrosis of leaf apex on newly emerging leaves at 21 DAT. Iron
deficiency symptoms appeared at 40 DAT as intervienal chlorosis on younger
leaves. Zinc deficient plants expressed symptoms at 35 DAT which showed
intervienal chlorosis on older leaves. Copper deficiency symptoms appeared at
20 DAT which resulted in distorted young leaves.
Gerbera plants grown in different nutrient deficient solutions showed
reduced plant growth when compared to plants supplied with complete
nutrient solution. Nitrogen deficiency significantly influenced the growth
parameters and resulted in reduced plant height, leaf number plant-1, leaf area,
root length, dry weight of shoot and root & shoot/root ratio. Besides, minimum
SLW and maximum SLA were recorded. Plants grown in complete nutrient
solution recorded maximum values for most growth parameters. However,
SLA was low in plants grown in complete nutrient solution whereas,
shoot/root ratio recorded maximum in Fe deficient solution.
Leaf analysis revealed that in deficiency situation, content of
individual mineral element was reduced. Some interactions between nutrients
also showed up. Nitrogen content was enhanced in K deficient treatment, P
content in Zn deficient treatment, K, Ca and Mn content in Mg deficient
treatment, Mg content in K deficient treatment, S content in N deficient
treatment, B content in Ca deficient treatment, Fe content in Cu deficient
treatment, Zn content in Fe deficient treatment and Cu content in Fe deficient
treatment were increased.
The nutrient uptake was recorded at the end of experiment and plants
grown in complete nutrient solution recorded maximum uptake of all macro
(except P & Ca) and micronutrients (except Fe & Cu). The treatment without
Zn recorded higher uptake of P, similarly higher uptake of Ca in B deficient
treatment, Fe in Cu & Mn deficient treatments, Cu in Zn deficient treatment.
In general uptake of different mineral elements in leaves of Gerbera plants was
directly proportional to the amount of growth put forth under different nutrient
deficiencies.
In the present study, without N and without Cu treatments showed early
symptoms (21 and 20 DAT respectively). Plant growth was greatly reduced by
N deficiency followed by P, K, Ca and Fe. Whereas, treatment without Mn did
not resulted in any visual symptoms during the period of study (60 DAT).
Description
Plants of Gerbera var. Savannah were grown with complete modified
Hoagland solution and nutrient deficiency treatments were induced with a
complete nutrient formula minus one of the nutrients.Withholding of different
nutrients from the nutrient medium resulted in characteristic visual symptoms
on foliage and growth of Gerbera plants. Nitrogen deficiency appeared at 21
DAT which resulted in yellowing of older leaves, P deficiency symptoms
appeared at 30 DAT and deficiency resulted in dark green leaves and highly
affected root system where in tap root was elongated. The K deficiency
symptoms appeared at 30 DAT which appeared as tannish brown necrosis
along the margins of older leaves.
Keywords
null
Citation
Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-30