Evaluation of Calcium Application Methods on Delaying Plant Wilting under Water Deficit in Bedding Plants

Floriculture crops can lose their aesthetic quality due to water deficit during postproduction. Calcium is a secondary messenger in plant stress signaling, and the treatment of calcium has been proposed alleviate damage by various abiotic stresses. The objective this research was evaluate application methods delay wilting under deficiency three species bedding plants: viola (Viola cornuta), impatiens (Impatiens walleriana), petunia (Petunia grandiflora). Three were compared including spray, drench, pre-drench. applied as CaCl2 Ca(NO3)2 at concentrations ranging from 50 300 mM. effect on shelf life species-dependent, increasing impatiens, but not petunia. Viola showed increased up 154% 400% drench pre-drench applications, respectively, control. In spray applications delayed symptoms 53% 200%, respectively. Comparing sources, most effective while effectively wilting. There no difference between application. These results provided optimum witling potential enhancing tolerance floriculture crops.