Studies on the Upper Leaf Necrosis in Orientalliliums

Abstract

Oriental Lilium is one of the commercial bulbous flower crops grown for its cut flower and ornamental value. Upper leaf necrosis is a nutrition disorder that is specific to certain conditions and often misconceived with other disorders. The symptoms of upper leaf necrosis occur on the growing portions of the upper 3 to 5 pairs of young leaves in oriental lilium and it is more specific. The imbalance of calcium and boron nutrients which is actively involved in the growing regions of plants viz., root tip, bud development, and in the meristematic tissues resulting in deficiency causes upper leaf necrosis in the Oriental lilium. The research on supplementing the deficiency of nutrients through foliar application during the vegetative phase on critical days in oriental lilium variety Paradero helped in alleviating the necrosis symptoms. Treatments withfoliar application of 0.08% & 0.1% each of calcium nitrate & borax applied from 30 to 45 days after planting at 5 days intervals resulted in no visible necrosis symptoms (score 0), early appearance of flower bud (48 days) and a greater number of flower buds (3 - 4). Treatment with foliar application of 0.1% each of calcium nitrate & borax ensures a greater number of flower buds (4) per plant.