Tall Utah Research Articles

Occurrence of Stemphylium Leaf Spot Caused by Stemphylium vesicarium in Commercial Celery Production Following an Onion Rotation

In 2022, lesions were observed on the lower leaves of ‘Fandango’ celery ( Apium graveolens L.) growing in a commercial field in Hamilton, Michigan. Brown spots were observed on the leaves’ adaxial surface and border extending to the petiole. Conidia were observed on the symptomatic tissue, and 25 fungal isolates, morphologically similar to Stemphylium vesicarium, were obtained. DNA was extracted from three isolates, and three primer sets were used to amplify and sequence the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and partial calmodulin ( cmdA) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase ( gapdh) genes. The obtained sequences of the three isolates had 100% pairwise identity with S. vesicarium sequences MW798751 (ITS), MK675706 ( cmdA), and OQ925923 ( gapdh). A multilocus phylogenetic analysis (neighbor-joining tree) strongly supported clustering Michigan isolates into a single clade with S. vesicarium reference sequences. Isolates recovered from celery were pathogenic to ‘CR1’, ‘Tall Utah’, and ‘Challenger’ celery and ‘Bradley’ onion. S. vesicarium isolates isolated from symptomatic onion volunteers were pathogenic to the three celery cultivars. To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. vesicarium as a pathogen on celery causing leaf spot, and volunteer onion may be a source of Stemphylium in celery fields.

Effects of organic and chemical nitrogen fertilization and postharvest treatments on the visual and nutritional quality of fresh-cut celery (Apium graveolens L.) during storage.

The shelf life of horticultural commodities depends on pre- and postharvest factors, such as soil fertilization and postharvest handling. The current study aimed to evaluate fresh-cut celery's postharvest quality as affected by the rate and type (organic and chemical) of nitrogen (N) fertilizer and postharvest treatments. Celery ('Tall Utah') crop was grown in a field in Karaj, Iran. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications and seven preharvest (fertilizer), and five postharvest treatments. Organic fertilizers were vermicompost (VER) and bio-organic fertilizer [farmyard and livestock manure plus Trichoderma harzianum (COM)]. Chemical fertilizers were urea (46% N) at high rate [322 kg·ha1N (UREA_HIGH)], optimal rate [196 kg·ha-1N (UREA_OPT)], and low rate [138 kg·ha-1N (UREA_LOW)]; ammonium nitrate [35% N (AN)] at 196 kg·ha-1N; and treatment without fertilization was used as a control. Postharvest treatments included plastic packaging (PP), hydrocooling (HC), blanching (B), and edible coating of psyllium seed mucilage (EC). After postharvest treatments, celery petioles were stored (0-2°C, 85%-90% RH) for 4 weeks and evaluated weekly for quality attributes. Organic fertilizers and UREA_LOW were the most effective treatments in reducing the changes in color, weight loss, titratable acidity (TA), pH, and total soluble solids (TSS) of fresh-cut celery. Organic fertilizers enhanced the vitamin C content, total phenols, and antioxidant activity in celeries. As postharvest treatments, hydrocooling, plastic packaging, and blanching maintained chroma and hue values. Blanching had the greatest effect on the L* value. Hydrocooling increased celery's TA, TSS, and vitamin C content and reduced weight loss and pH during storage. Thus, celery quality was improved when grown under low or adequate N fertilization. Hydrocooling was an effective postharvest treatment for preserving fresh-cut celery quality during storage.

Growth and Results of Three Varieties Celery (Apium graveolens L) With Addition of Alternative Nutrition in the Hydroponic Floating System

The objectives of the research were to determine the best varieties of celery and nutrient concentration with the addition of azolla extract for growth and yield of celery, and obtaining the best combination of varieties and nutrient concentrations for growth and yield of celery in the hydroponic floating system. The research was conducted at Screen house number A. 24 and the Laboratory of Agronomy and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Jenderal Soedirman University and was conducted from January 2020 to April 2020. The research was arranged in a two-factorial randomized block design. The first factors were varieties treatment (V): V1 (Summer variety), V2 (Amigo variety), V3 (Tall Utah variety). The second factors were treatment of nutrient concentration (K): K1 (AB mix solution 900 ppm + azolla extract 60 ml / l), K2 (AB mix solution 1100 ppm + azolla extract 60 ml / l), K3 (AB mix solution 1300 ppm + azolla extract 60 ml / l), K4 (AB mix solution 1500 ppm without azolla extract). The research variables observed were plant height, number of leaves, amount of chlorophyll, fresh root weight, dry root weight, fresh shoot weight, dry shoot weight, root length and number of stalks. The results showed that the Tall Utah variety and the nutrient concentration of 1300 ppm + 60 ml / l azolla extract was the best treatment for growth and yield of celery. The interaction between the two treatments of Tall Utah varieties and nutrient concentrations of 1300 ppm + azolla extract 60ml / l showed the best treatment on the variable number of leaves 39.16, total chlorophyll 49.91, fresh root weight 7.57 g, dry root weight 0, 73 g, dry shoot weight 2.11 g, root length 9.11 cm, and the number of petioles 8.94 pieces.

First Report of Leaf Curl on Celery Caused by Colletotrichum acutatum in the United States.

In June 2010 and July 2011, celery (Apium graveolens) samples cv. Tango were submitted to the Penn State Plant Disease Clinic from Franklin and Dauphin Counties, PA, respectively. Plants exhibited curling and twisting of leaves and petioles and dark, brownish-black necrotic lesions at the base of the plant, extending up the petioles. A fungal organism with morphology consistent to Colletotrichum acutatum J.H. Simmonds was isolated from plant lesion tissue excised from the Dauphin Co. sample. Grown on half strength potato dextrose agar (PDA), the colony had gray aerial mycelium and a pink reverse. Conidia were 5.1 to 14.5 × 2.6 to 5.1 μm, aseptate, hyaline, elliptical, with one or both ends slightly pointed, and formed from the mycelium or in dense orange masses of acervuli on the aerial surface of the culture. Setae were not present. To test pathogenicity, five 23-week-old plants of the cv. Sonora and five 11-week-old plants each of the cvs. Tango and Tall Utah were sprayed until runoff with a conidial suspension (1.3 × 106 conidia/ml and 1.4 × 106 conidia/ml, respectively) and 0.025% Tween. One plant of each cv. was sprayed with milliQ water and 0.025% Tween as a control. Plastic bags were sprayed with the conidial suspension (milliQ water for the control), and secured over the individual plants for 24 h to create a humidity chamber. Plants were incubated in a growth chamber with a 16-h photoperiod, 25°C day/18°C night temperatures, and 70% humidity. Post-inoculation, all of the cv. Tango plants exhibited leaf cupping and curling after 7 days and most plants had dark stem lesions after 3 weeks, consistent with celery leaf curl symptoms. Plants of cvs. Tall Utah and Sonora developed malformed leaves and leaf curl symptoms 16 days and 10 days post-inoculation, respectively. None of the control plants developed symptoms. Infected tissue was excised from diseased plants, surface disinfested in 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for 45 s and plated on half strength PDA. Fungal colonies consistent with C. acutatum were recovered from all inoculated celery tissues (except two of the five inoculated cv. Tall Utah plants and the negative controls). To verify morphological identification, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA region was amplified and sequenced for our original isolate and those recovered from the inoculated plants using ITS1 and ITS4 primers (2) (GenBank Accession No. JQ794875). Sequence homology revealed 99 to 100% similarity to accessioned isolates of C. acutatum, which included the holotype and a paratype of C. acutatum (Accession Nos. AF411700 and AF411701, respectively). Celery leaf curl has been reported to have caused devastating crop losses on celery in Australia (1, 3) and to our knowledge, C. acutatum causing leaf curl of celery has not been officially reported in the United States. Infected celery plants are unmarketable because of the leaf malformation and eventual plant necrosis caused by C. acutatum. As such, this disease could have serious negative implications for celery growers in the United States.

Induction of somatic embryos of celery by control of gaseous compositions and other physical conditions

The celery (Tall Utah, Apium graveolens var. dulce) was adopted as a model system to investigate effective methods for enhancing embryogenesis. The focus was placed on attaining the optimum gaseous composition and the mixing intensity and viscosity of culture systems. The mixing intensity was investigated by using creased flasks and evaluated by shear force index (SFI). By using different closures with different ventilation coefficients, K w, to adjust the gaseous composition in the flasks, it was found that embryo frequency (EF) increased with high \(P_{{\rm O}_2}\) or low ethylene concentration in the headspace of the culture flasks. Cultivating the embryogenic cells under controlled ethylene concentrations depressed EF at ethylene concentrations higher than 0.08 ppm. Moreover, 0.1 μM of CoCl2 remarkably repressed the ethylene formation in the culture medium and enhanced EF. \(P_{{\rm CO}_2}\) and \(P_{{\rm O}_2}\) around 3% and 30%, respectively, favored EF. For non-creased flasks, addition of CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) decreased the EF and DO level of the medium, due to lowered mass transfer rate attributed to high viscosity. For creased flasks, supplementation of 0.4 g/ 100 ml CMC reduced the ill-effects of high shear stress and maximized EF (7.22%). Our results are potentially applicable to other species and large-scale embryo production systems.

Growth, Water Relations, and Ion Content of Field-grown Celery [Apium graveolens L. var. dulce (Mill.) Pers.] under Saline Irrigation

We irrigated field-grown celery (Apium graveolens L. var. dulce [Mill.] Pers. 'Tall Utah') with four concentrations of saline water, NSC (nonstressed control), SW1, SW2, and SW3, corresponding to EC of 0.5, 4.4, 8.5, and 15.7 dS·m-1, respectively, plus a nonirrigated control (NIC) and investigated the effects of the treatments on water relations, yield and ion content. In addition, we compared simultaneously plant response to both salt and drought stress by using a modified version of the threshold-slope model. Increasing salinity of the irrigation water reduced fresh and dry weights of the shoots, but increased the dry matter percentage in shoots. The marketable yield was moderately affected by salinity (25% reduction at EC 8.5 dS·m-1). In contrast, a severe water stress dramatically decreased the marketable yield from 23 t·ha-1 (average of the irrigated treatments) to <7 t·ha-1 (nonirrigated control). Na+ and Cl- concentrations increased in salinized plants whereas nitrogen content, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ concentrations decreased upon salinization. Midday leaf water potentials (Ψt) decreased from -1.48 MPa (0.5 dS·m-1) to -2.05 MPa (15.7 dS·m-1) and - 2.17 MPa (nonirrigated control), though the reduction in leaf cellular turgor was less severe. The maintenance of high leaf cellular turgor was positively correlated to a decrease in osmotic potential and to an increased bulk modulus of elasticity. These results indicate that it is possible to irrigate celery with saline water (up to 8.5 dS·m-1) with acceptable losses in marketable yield and confirmed that in the field, this species has the ability to efficiently regulate water and ion homeostasis. In the absence of irrigation, celery plants were unable to cope with the drought stress experienced, although this was comparable, in terms of soil water potential, to the one caused by saline irrigation.

The response of different celery genotypes to infection by septoria apiicola

A rapid and useful method of disease assessment, based on a visual key, was developed for leaf spot of celery, caused by Septoria apiicola. Details were provided by an assessment of percentage infection, number and type of lesions per plant and number of pycnidia per lesion. The lesion response was graded from 0 (resistant with no lesions) to 3 (susceptible with grey lesions, leaf chlorosis and numerous pycnidia). Assessments were performed on leaves attached to the plants as well as on detached leaves incubated in sealed Petri dishes, after inoculation with a standard spore suspension. Tests were carried out on currently popular celery varieties, lines of wild celery, hybrids of celery × wild celery and celery × parsley. Lesion response 0 was found on some lines of wild celery, lovage and parsley; response 1 on lines of wild celery; response 2 on hybrid celery × wild celery and on the commercial celery Giant Red; and response 3 on all of the remaining celery varieties tested (Monarch, Fenlander, Tall Utah and Galaxy). Detached leaves from the individual genotypes showed responses in an order similar to that of the attached leaves but the onset of the response in detached leaves was always more rapid, with fewer lesions and pycnidia. Analysis of leaf chlorophyll content from the different sources was made to establish any relationship between chlorophyll and resistance but none was found.

Potential of Somaclonal Celeries for Use in Integrated Pest Management

The somaclonal celery lines ‘K-26[1]’, ‘K-I08[3]2’, ‘K-I28’, ‘F-128[3]1’, and ‘F- 128[4]’, developed for resistance to the Fusarium yellows caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii, were investigated for susceptibility to Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), and for hazardous concentrations of linear furanocoumarins, a group of compounds toxic to humans and animals, and found in Apium spp. The somacional lines K-26[1], K-I08[3]2, and K-128 were all significantly more resistant to S. exigua than the commercial standard celery ‘Tall Utah 52-70R’. None of the somaclonal lines had total leaf contents of linear furanocoumarins significantly different from levels found in 52- 70R. Petiole contents of furanocoumarins in the different celeries were variable, but below levels reported to cause acute dermatitis (18 µg/g fresh weight) or even chronic dermatitis (7 µg/g)in humans. Because the new somaclonal lines have resistance to a major celery disease, Fusarium yellows, the K-26[1], K-108[3]2, and K-128 lines represent good potential components for integration into breeding programs for integrated pest management for celery.

Plant Age and Seasonal Variations in Genotypic Resistance of Celery to Beet Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Plant physiological growth stage and growing environment significantly interacted with celery ( Apium graveolens L.) genotypes to influence the expression of genetic resistance of celery to the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner). Plant vegetative growth, as measured by plastochron index, was primarily linear with physiological time and showed no major season-related variations. Insect developmental times from egg to pupa and from egg to adult showed the largest variations during this study, with significant genotype-by-season, genotype-by-plant growth stage, and season-by-stage interactions. Overall, all four celery genotypes tested, ‘Tall Utah 52-70R’, ‘UC-08’, ‘UC-10’, and UC-26, were more resistant to beet armyworm during the warm season and as plants matured. Because both plant age and growing environment proved to interact significantly with plant genotype to magnify or suppress expression of genetic plant resistance to pests, it is important to study test plant genotypes under various growing conditions and at different stages of plant growth to determine the potential genotype-by-environment and genotype-by-stage interactions before characterization and utilization of the resistance in breeding for pest resistance and integrated pest management programs.

The origin of variation in seed density in celery (Apium graveolens L.)

SummarySeeds were harvested separately from the sequentially formed umbels to obtain information about the origin of variation in seed density in celery. The study involved seeds from the lowest order (primary) to the highest order (quarternary) umbels from the cvs Mars, Monarch, Selfira and Tall Utah. With increasing umbel order the percentage germination decreased and the mean germination time increased. Seed density increased with increasing umbel order, but was more highly correlated with the length of the seed ripening period which differed for each umbel order due to simultaneous harvesting. The decrease in seed density during seed development was correlated with an increase in air volume in the seeds. It is concluded that the variation in seed density in celery seed lots originated from differences in seed maturity.

Linear furanocoumarins of three celery breeding lines: Implications for integrated pest management

Bergapten and xanthotoxin were the major furanocoumarins isolated from the Fusarium-resistant celery breeding lines UC-08, UC-10, and UC-26 and the standard cultivar Tall Utah 52-70R. Petiole contents of bergapten and xanthotoxin in the new lines were similar to those in 52-70R. All petiole concentrations were below levels reported to cause either acute (18.0 μg/g fresh weight) or chronic dermatitis (7.0 μg/g). Leaf contents of furanocoumarins in the new lines also were statistically comparable to those in 52-70R but were high enough to cause chronic dermatitis, thus justifying use of safety measures by workers handling leaves

Interspecific Breeding for Beet Armyworm Resistance in Celery, Evaluation of Fl Hybrids

Abstract The commercial celery ‘Tall Utah’ 52-70R (Apium graveolens L.), the wild species A. prostratum spp prostratum var. filiform (A230 from Australia), and the Fl (A. graveolens X A. prostratum) were obtained from germplasm resources held at the University of California, Davis, Department of Vegetable Crops. Beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hiibner), larvae were from a laboratory colony maintained on artificial diet at 27 ± 2°C and 16:8 (L:D) photoperiod. Test plants were transplanted into 1-liter pots in University of California soil mixture on 5 March 1991 for replicate 1 and on 3 October 1991 for replicates 2 and 3, and maintained under the same moisture, light, and nutrient regimes in a greenhouse equipped with charcoal filters to remove air pollutants. A one-half strength Hoagland‘s nutrient solution was used to fertilize the plants twice per week. For each replicate, bioassays were initiated 5 months after transplanting by filling 30-ml cups containing agar gel with fresh plant parts (leaf + petiole) of each plant genotype. One neonate beet armyworm was placed in each cup, which then was capped with a plastic lid with pin-holes. The plant tissue was renewed every other day and the agar gel every week. Treatment cups were arranged as a complete block with three replicates of thirty cups per replicate, i.e. a total of 90 cups per genotype were tested. All tests were maintained in environmental chambers at 27 ± 2°C, 75% RH and 16:8 (L:D) photoperiod. Weight of larvae at 7 and 9 days, time to pupation, weight of pupae, time to adult emergence, and survivorship were recorded for each treatment.

Resistance to Spodoptera exigua in Apium prostratum

AbstractTwo Apium accessions were compared with the commercial cultivar ‘Tall Utah’ 52–70R (A. graveolens [L.]) for resistance to Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Oviposition rate was not significantly different between the three genotypes. In all accessions, eggs were usually placed on the upper half of the plants. Implications of this oviposition pattern on S. exigua management in celery are discussed. The wild species A. prostratum ssp prostratum var filiform (A230) showed a significantly higher resistance to S. exigua than 52–70R. The levels of carcinogenic and mutagenic linear furanocoumarins in the commercial cultivar 52–70R (1.41 μg/g in the petioles; 5.85 μg/g in the leaves) and in the plant accession A. nodiflorum (5.40 μg/g in the petioles; 2.99 μg/g in the leaves) were far below the concentration reported to produce acute contact dermatitis (18.0 μg/g). The levels of furanocoumarins in A. prostratum petioles (186.14 μg/g) and leaves (326.45 μg/g) were 10 and 18 times higher, respectively, than the concentration known to cause contact dermatitis. However, resistance in A. prostratum was primarily due to non‐preference and the linear furanocoumarins did not induce non‐preference. Therefore, the resistance shown by this plant accession does not appear to be furanocoumarin‐based and may be suitable for transfer to commercial celery for use in S. exigua management.

Effects of temperature of pre-sowing hydration treatment and subsequent drying rates on the germination performance of celery seed

Abstract There is considerable potential for the improvement of the slow and irregular germination of celery seeds (Apiurn graveolens L.) by pre-sowing hydration treatments, but poor germination performance as a result of drying seeds after treatment is a recurrent problem. Over the temperature range 5–20°C the onset of seed germination is determined by a thermal time relationship, but a pre-sowing treatment temperature of 15°C was identified as the most effective for the two celery cultivars—‘Tall Utah 52–70’ and ‘Green Giant Hybrid’—when the seeds were only surface-dried before sowing. However, conventional air-drying of treated seeds at 20°C caused severe delays in germination and decreased uniformity. Higher treatment temperatures reduced the adverse effect of drying on the seeds but resulted in little or no germination advantage because of thermodormancy, which was particularly evident at 25°C. Deleterious effects of drying-back were avoided, and in some instances further germination enhancement gain...

Increasing Resistance in Celery toFusarium oxysporumf. sp.apiiRace 2 with Somaclonal Variation

Somaclones were regenerated from cell suspension cultures derived from callus of celery cultivar Tall Utah 52-70 HK (moderately resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp, apii race 2). Eighty-one of 350 somaclones screened for resistance to F. o. apii race 2 in either the greenhouse or the field had increased resistance over parental plants grown from seed. Thirty-five highly resistant somaclones (R 0 generation) were self-pollinated, and 10 of the resulting R 1 progenylines were rated as highly resistant when screened in the field

Host Plant Resistance and Linear Furanocoumarin Content of Apium Accessions

Linear furanocoumarin contents and antibiotic resistance to Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) were documented for Apium species being investigated in a celery breeding program. In no-choice tests, L. trifolii fed more, produced more offspring, and had the highest pupal and adult productivity on the widely planted cultivar 'Tall Utah' 52-70R (Apium graveolens L.). Antibiotic effects of the commercial cultivar 'Tall Utah' 52-70 HK and University of California families 87A-147 and 87A-338, derived from A. chilense Hook and Arn., were intermediate. Only A. nodiflorum (L.) Lag (accession 87A-236) did not allow survival beyond the larval stage. Concentrations of the carcinogenic and mutagenic linear furanocoumarins varied by location within plants (leaves usually greater than petioles), by specific compound (trend: psoralen less than xanthotoxin less than bergapten or isopimpinellin), and between accessions. A. nodiflorum had the lowest foliar levels of phototoxic furanocoumarins (11.8 micrograms/g fresh weight) and the best potential for use in the breeding program. Foliar levels of phototoxic furanocoumarins (psoralen, bergapten, and xanthotoxin) in plants 87A-147-3 (406 micrograms/g), 87A-147-2 (292.9 micrograms/g), and the family 87A-338 (265.9 micrograms/g) were 22.6, 16.3, and 14.8 times higher, respectively, than the concentration known to produce contact dermatitis (18 micrograms/g). Even with such variability in concentration, the foliar content of linear furanocoumarins (individually or total) and L. trifolii adult production were not correlated.

Chromosome fusions in cultured cells of celery

A 6-month-old cell suspension culture of celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce cv. Tall Utah 52-70R) exhibited both numerical and structural changes in chromosomes. Approximately 50% of the cultured cells had a normal chromosome number (2n = 22); however, 42% were hypodiploid cells (2n = 17–21). The most frequent structural change was chromosome fusion, which was observed in 44% of the cells analyzed and was highly associated with hypodiploidy. Chromosome fusions seemed to occur among any two or more of the chromosome components, but preferentially involved short arms of acrocentrics. This suggests that heterochromatic terminal ends or telomeres, particularly late DNA-replicating regions, would play an important role for inducing chromosome fusions. Furthermore, a very high frequency of fusions in the cultured cells of this study suggests that the occurrence of fusion might be a primary source of other structural changes such as translocations, duplications, and deficiencies observed in older cultures.Key words: Apium, hypodiploidy, chromosome fusion, tissue culture, celery culture.

Pesticidal Impact on Leafminers and Parasites in Celery, 1982

Abstract ‘Tall Utah 52-70 R’ celery was transplanted 5 Aug. at the Univ. of California South Coast Field Stn. in Santa Ana, Calif. The crop was sprinkle irrigated for 3 weeks and drip irrigated thereafter. Experimental plots were three beds wide (40-in centers) by 50 ft long with one untreated buffer row between plots. Each bed contained two rows of plants 6 to 8 in apart. Treatments were replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. Insecticides were applied weekly with a tractor mounted boom sprayer from 19 Aug. to 28 Oct. As plant height increased, nozzles varied from 1 to 3 per row and carrier (H2O) increased from 50 to 100 gal/acre. Hollow cone nozzles incorporated D3 orifice disks, #25 cores and 50-mesh screens. All treatments except MK-936 contained 0.04% spreader-sticker (Leaf Act 40). Beet armyworm damage was based on number of damaged plants found in 50 randomly selected plants per replicate from the center bed at harvest. Leafminer pupae were collected weekly from four pupal trays (4 by 8 in) per replicate and inserted between rows. Number of dead parasites were also counted. At harvest the number of mined leaves per plant for 4 plants per replicate was recorded as an index of leafminer activity.

Relationships between Growth and Nitrogen Fertilization of Celery1

Abstract Celery (Apium graveolens cv. Tall Utah 52-70R) was grown with only preplant N (100 kg/ha) or preplant plus 100, 200, or 300 kg/ha of additional N split into equal sidedress applications. Marketable yield and total N uptake significantly increased by the addition of sidedressed N, but there were no significant differences among sidedress treatments. However, increasing increments of N consistently increased early season crop and leaf growth rates and hastened maturity. With only preplant N, growth response was delayed but growth rates continued to increase after those of the side-dressed plants had begun to decrease.

Calcium mobilization into developing seedlings of umbelliferous plants

Calcium mobilization into developing seedlings of several umbelliferous plants including carrot (Daucus carota L. cv. Imperator 408), wild carrot (Daucus carota L.), caraway (Carum carvi L.), anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), dill (Anethum graveolens L.), celery (Apium graveolens L. cv. Tall Utah), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), parsnip (Pastinaca sativa L. cv. Hollow Crown), parsley (Petroselinum sativum L. cv. Moss Curled), and chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium L. cv. Curled) was investigated with emphasis on carrot and celery. Calcium determinations using atomic absorption spectrometry of carrot and celery embryos obtained from dry mericarps and carrot and celery seedlings collected when the pericarp plus testa plus endosperm remains fell off the seedlings, revealed that some calcium uptake occurred in carrot and possibly celery. It is possible that some of the calcium obtained by the seedlings came from the calcium oxalate crystals but the calcium could also have originated from other calcium sources within the endosperm. Polarized light studies of endosperm remains from carrot, celery, and the other members of the family Umbelliferae investigated, revealed that large numbers of calcium oxalate crystals were present in the endosperm remains after separation from the seedlings. The results of these studies indicate that calcium oxalate crystals are not used extensively as a calcium source during germination and early seedling growth.