THE ANATOMY OF INTERNAL TIPBURN OF CABBAGE

Abstract

Leaves of resistant and susceptible breeding lines of two closely related varieties of cabbage, ‘Glory’ and ‘Globe,’ showing internal tipburn were examined anatomically. Since both resistant and susceptible lines developed tipburn, the type of injury rather than the amount was considered. Regardless of the degree of resistance, cellular disorders in the tipburned areas were the same. Early symptoms showed small gray areas at the lobes of the leaves. The outer parenchymatous cells of these areas remained normal. Some of the xylem vessels became occluded with a granular substance; surrounding cells, including the idioblasts, enlarged. The idioblasts, reported to contain the enzyme myrosin, contained a particulate substance. Some idioblasts hypertrophied and also divided resulting in the distribution of the particles to additional cells. The conditions causing tipburn also affected cell walls, causing thickening and the production of pectic warts between cells and on walls facing the intercellular spaces. As more xylem vessels became occluded, and as the number of idioblasts with particles increased, the cells at the periphery of the leaf collapsed.