by Brian E. Whipker, Josh Henry & Hunter Landis
Upper leaf tip necrosis - Water stress or calcium?
written by Brian Whipker (professor of floriculture at NC State University), Josh Henry (floricutlure graduate student at NC State University), and Hunter Landis (Agronomist at the NC Department of Agriculture – Plant, Waste, Solution and Media section)
Water management of hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) can be a challenge. They are typically grown on the cool side, which tends to limit water use. They also have a very large leaf surface area which results in higher water loss. In addition, they do not close their stomates, so consequently, hydrangeas lack the ability to regulate water loss under drought stress conditions. This can readily lead to wilting and the resulting leaf scorch (Fig. 1).
Figure 1. Leaf tip burn readily develops on drought stressed hydrangeas. (photo: Brian Whipker)
Leaf scorch is a common problem of hydrangeas. This is often observed when a drip emitter falls out of the pot, and the plant quickly wilts leading to tip burn. Symptoms of an initial light brown necrosis usually appear on the middle to upper leaves. Symptoms begin along the leaf margin closest to the leaf tip. Over time the light brown coloration can become almost black (Fig. 2). Another key diagnostic characteristic is that the leaf necrosis can expand half way back towards the base of the leaf under severe conditions (Fig. 3).
Figure 2. Over time the brown leaf discoloration caused by water stress may turn black. (photo: Brian Whipker)
In contrast, a slight leaf tip necrosis that occurs along the leaf margin of newly expanding leaves has also been observed (Fig. 4). As these leaves expand, they develop a crinkled and cupped appearance because the necrotic leaf margin tissue cannot expand as the internal tissue grows (Fig. 5). These symptoms have been most prevalent after a week of cloudy weather, which would limit transpiration and hence water uptake by the plant. The symptoms develop on plants when the small leaves are still in the whorl and wrapped around the flower buds.
Figure 3. With a severe dry down, necrosis can extend towards the middle portion of the leaf. (photo: Brian Whipker)
These symptoms have also been reported on other species. Dr. Bill Miller of Cornell University was a co-author of a report that identified the necrosis on ‘Stargazer’ lilies as being caused by a Ca deficiency (Fig. 6). They found that the flower bud was a greater sink (has preferential demand) for Ca over the leaves that surround the flower bud. Ca bypasses these surrounding leaves and instead goes to the flower buds. Consequently, a Ca limiting situation occurs which results in cell death of the leaves.
Figure 4. Leaf tip necrosis of the recently expanding tissue on a hydrangea caused by an environmentally and culturally induced calcium deficiency. (photo: Brian Whipker)
These same conditions can occur with zinnias when grown in the summer under hot and humid conditions. Leaf tip necrosis occurs on the wrapper leaves surrounding the flower bud while the growth is still in the whorl (Fig. 7).
Figure 5. Leaf cupping develops when the outside margin of necrotic tissue fails to expand with the leaf interior. The tip necrosis occurred because calcium was limited. (photo: Brian Whipker)
We have observed leaf tip burn on the newly expanding leaves of hydrangeas at three grower locations. A tissue sample was taken of the tissue around the outer margin of the leaf and analyzed for Ca concentration, which was found to be low.
Figure 6. With ‘Stargazer’ lilies, leaf tip burn is the result of a Ca deficiency induced when Ca is preferably transported to the developing flower instead of the developing leaves just below the flower bud. (photo: Brian Whipker)
The target substrate pH for pink and white hydrangeas is between 5.8 and 6.2. Blue hydrangeas are grown at a lower pH between 5.2 and 5.5. Thus, a lower amount of lime is typically added to the substrate to keep the substrate acidic. This also means that the amount of Ca provided to the hydrangea plant is lower. Most Ca-based fertilizers are also basic and are typically avoided to prevent an increase in substrate pH. If Ca does not occur naturally in the irrigation water, then marginally low levels of Ca will be provided to the plants and deficient conditions are more likely to occur.
Figure 7. Tip necrosis can be observed on the leaves that surround the zinnia flower bud. This situation occurs frequently under hot and humid growing conditions. (photo: Brian Whipker)
Calcium deficiency symptoms on the young developing leaves may be exacerbated by high humidity in the greenhouse during flower bud formation. Under these conditions, the lack of plant transpiration limits Ca uptake from the substrate via mass flow. The reduced transpiration limits the available Ca and results in tip burn of the leaves surrounding the developing flower bud. In addition to providing adequate Ca in the range of 50 to 100 ppm, promoting air flow in the greenhouse will help avoid this environmentally induced deficiency. Increased air flow can be achieved by using horizontal flow fans or doing an air exchange to vent the humidity.
Source: e-Gro