1. Upper Leaf Necrosis in Oriental Hybrid Lilies William B. Miller and Y.-C. (Alex) Chang Department of Horticulture Cornell University

5. ..

8. How do ULN symptoms develop? 1st day symptoms visible 21 days later

9. When does ULN occur? Most plants begin to show symptoms 30-40 days after planting % Necrosed Plants

10. Where do ULN symptoms occur? ULN only occurs on leaves associated with flower buds and the leaves immediately below the buds

11. Tissue analysis Tissue taken at this ULN stage

12. 12 3 4 5

14. The hypothesized cause of ULN ULN is a calcium deficiency disorder:   Leaf overlap reduces transpiration, thereby reducing Ca transport to the young leaves, thereby encouraging the symptoms   Also due to insufficient Ca supply from the bulb

15. Calcium Calcium moves upward in plants with the water flow Calcium moves upward in plants with the water flow  Xylem (water-conducting) system  Calcium accumulates in leaves that are actively losing water through transpiration  Young or “congested” leaves don’t transpire as much  Leaves (or fruit) that grow faster than their calcium supply are susceptible to calcium deficiency problems (e.g. blossom end rot in tomato)

16. Bulb Scales

17. All Leaves

18. Folded (young) Leaves

20. 0 mM Ca0.2 mM Ca4 mM Ca Sand cultures…14/16 cm bulbs

21. Ca-free nutrient solution reproduced ULN symptoms

22. Larger bulb sizes increase ULN

23. 12/14 cm16/18 cm14/16 cm Bulb size vs. leaf enclosure ( “ apical congestion ” )

24. Artificial Leaf Unfolding

26. 1X/dayControl2X/day

27. Overhead fans to blowing down

28. Overhead fans to reduce ULN Fan offFan-lowFan-high

29. Adding calcium to bulbs before planting A range of studies, using several Ca concentrations and dipping times (1 min to 16 hours) were conducted A range of studies, using several Ca concentrations and dipping times (1 min to 16 hours) were conducted Basic conclusion: no positive effect Basic conclusion: no positive effect

30. Effectiveness of bulb dips in calcium chloride on upper leaf necrosis on Lilium cv. Star Gazer.

31. Upper Leaf Necrosis is a calcium deficiency disorder: Upper Leaf Necrosis is a calcium deficiency disorder:  Insufficient Ca supply from the bulb  Insufficient transpiration resulting from leaf enclosure of the shoot apex  Necrosis symptoms begin to show 30-40 days after planting  This is when plants are about 12” tall  The 5 leaves immediately below the flower buds and the leaves associated with the buds are most susceptible to ULN Actual injury occurs much earlier than symptom expression Actual injury occurs much earlier than symptom expression Conclusions

32. Factors that increase ULN: Factors that increase ULN:  Larger bulbs  Low transpiration  High humidity (mist) Horticultural methods to reduce ULN: Horticultural methods to reduce ULN:  Use smaller bulbs if applicable  Keep greenhouse “dry”  Prevent water accumulation on leaves  Supplemental lighting in winter  Daily foliar Ca sprays (days 25-45)  Bulb dips are not promising  Airflow! Overhead fans offer a promising method to control ULN Conclusions

33. Acknowledgements USDA/ARS-SAF National Floriculture Research Initiative USDA/ARS-SAF National Floriculture Research Initiative Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Royal Dutch Wholesalers Association for Flowerbulbs and Nursery Stock Royal Dutch Wholesalers Association for Flowerbulbs and Nursery Stock Post/Schenkel Memorial Council Post/Schenkel Memorial Council Ministry of Education, Taiwan Ministry of Education, Taiwan