Effects of cessation of irrigation and time of lifting of tubers on bacterial soft rot of calla (Zantedeschia spp.) tubers

Abstract

The incidence and severity of bacterial soft rot of calla (Zantedeschia spp.) tubers at harvest were affected by the time that irrigation ceased and the time when tubers were lifted from the ground. The longer that tubers were left in the ground after the onset of foliage senescence, the greater the levels of soft rot. When irrigation was terminated early, foliage senescence occurred more rapidly than when irrigation was terminated later. Early cessation of irrigation reduced the incidence and severity of tuber rots at lifting without greatly affecting tuber size. Early lifting of tubers reduced the incidence of rots but also reduced tuber yield because tubers were still actively growing.