Nitrogen Source for Inflorescence Development in Phalaenopsis: II
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J. AMER.SOC.HORT.SCI. 139(1):76–82. 2014. Nitrogen Source for Inflorescence Development in Phalaenopsis: II. Effect of Reduced Fertilizer Level on Stored Nitrogen Use Hadi Susilo and Yao-Chien Alex Chang1 Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, National Taiwan University, 1 Roosevelt Road Sec. 4, Taipei 10617, Taiwan ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. limited fertility, mineral mobilization, moth orchid, nitrogen-15, nitrogen storage, reproductive stage ABSTRACT.PlantsofPhalaenopsis orchid are known for their great resilience and ability to flower under less than ideal conditions, including long periods without fertilization. Significant nutrient storage is thought to account for this characteristic; however, the use of stored nutrients in Phalaenopsis has not been fully studied. We used 15N- labeled Johnson’s solution to trace the use of stored nitrogen (N) and recently absorbed fertilizer N in Phalaenopsis given various fertilizer levels during forcing. By separately labeling fertilizer N applied to Phalaenopsis Sogo Yukidian ‘V3’ plants 6 weeks before and 6 weeks into forcing, we found in the inflorescence that the ratio of N derived from fertilizer applied 6 weeks before forcing to the N derived from fertilizer applied 6 weeks into forcing was 43% to 57%. With 90% reduction in fertilizer concentration during the reproductive stage, the ratio increased to 89% to 11%, indicating that stored N becomes a significant N source for inflorescence development when fertility becomes limited. Reducing fertilizer level during the reproductive stage from full-strength Johnson’s solution down to zero decreased the dry weight of newly grown leaves, reduced the number of flowers from 10.8 to 8.9, and slightly increased the time required between initiation of forcing and anthesis. However, the overall effect of reduced fertilization on the growth and flowering of Phalaenopsis Sogo Yukidian ‘V3’ plants in this study was slight, because under little or no fertilization, more stored N was mobilized and this was sufficient to meet most of the N demand for inflorescence development. Phalaenopsis is among the world’s most important horti- plants can continue to grow and flower normally for a long time culture crops grown as flowering potted plants and is also even under suboptimal N supply (Lei, 2007). In our previous grown for cut flower production. In recent years, Phalaenopsis study, we showed that this resilience to N deficiency is is the highest grossing potted flowering plant in the world’s attributable to significant amounts of N being stored in the major floriculture markets (FloraHolland, 2013; U.S. Depart- plants (Susilo et al., 2013). In another study, we quantified the ment of Agriculture, 2013). In addition to a long blooming contribution of fertilizer N stored throughout the vegetative period (Chang et al., 2013), Phalaenopsis is also noted for stage of Phalaenopsis to the developing inflorescence when resilience against stresses (Hou et al., 2010; Hung, 2012; Lei, fertilizer supply was ample during forcing (Susilo et al., 2014). 2007), which makes it very versatile and adaptable, both during We hypothesize that reducing fertilizer level during the forcing production and post-harvest. period would increase the contribution of previously stored N to Nitrogen is an important macronutrient in plants. The inflorescence development. To our knowledge there is no growth and flowering of Phalaenopsis are significantly affected conclusive evidence to support this hypothesis in the current by the N status in the plants (Lei, 2007; Yu, 2012). In literature. Phalaenopsis, symptoms of N deficiency include reduced leaf High rates of N before harvest are known to reduce the number and leaf area, low chlorophyll content and reduced dry quality of some flowering crops (e.g., ter Hell and Hendriks, weight of leaves, and a greater incidence of leaf drop (Yoneda 1995). Consequently, some Phalaenopsis growers reduce or et al., 1997). N deficiency could also result in reduced flowering withhold fertilization altogether during the finishing stage of quality in Phalaenopsis (Peng, 2008; Wang, 2000; Wang and Phalaenopsis. Moreover, post-sale plants are often subjected to Gregg, 1994). periods of no fertilization. Although effects and symptoms of Although the effects of N deficiency in Phalaenopsis are N deficiency in Phalaenopsis have been reported in the known and have been reported, Phalaenopsis plants do show literature (Lei, 2007; Peng, 2008; Wang and Gregg, 1994; great resilience to N deficiency (Lei, 2007; Yu, 2012). Healthy Yoneda et al., 1997; Yu, 2012), how the stored N and currently applied fertilizer N are used in Phalaenopsis grown with reduced fertilizer level is still largely unknown. In the present 15 Received for publication 24 Oct. 2013. Accepted for publication 2 Dec. 2013. study, we used N labeling to trace the use of stored N and This research was funded by a grant from the National Science Council, newly absorbed fertilizer N under various fertilizer levels Executive Yuan, Taiwan (NSC 98-2313-B-002-014-MY3). during the reproductive stage of Phalaenopsis. This study consists of parts of the thesis submitted by Hadi Susilo in partial fulfillment of Master of Science degree requirements. Materials and Methods We are grateful to Ya-Chi Yu for helpful discussions in the experiment. We also thank the Stable Isotope Facility at the University of California, Davis for performing the 15N analysis. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE. The objective of this experiment 1Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. was to investigate how different rates of fertilizer application 76 J. AMER.SOC.HORT.SCI. 139(1):76–82. 2014. during the reproductive stage of Phalaenopsis would affect the provided by subirrigating each pot in a saucer filled with use of N accumulated during the vegetative growth stage. 200 mL full-strength Johnson’s solution when the surface of Mature vegetatively propagated Phalaenopsis Sogo Yukidian the sphagnum moss appeared dry. All plants were fertigated at ‘V3’ plants grown in sphagnum moss in 10.5-cm pots were the beginning of the experiment. The V 0%, V 10%, V 100% divided into one group of seven plants and five groups of 20 groups and the ‘‘before forcing’’ group received Johnson’s plants each. The first group of seven plants was labeled ‘‘before solution labeled with 11.25 atom% 15N at this first fertigation forcing,’’ whereas the remaining five groups were labeled V (Fig. 1). After 6 weeks of vegetative growth, plants in the 0%, V 10%, V 100%, F 10%, and F 100% (Fig. 1), where the ‘‘before forcing’’ group were harvested, divided into newly first letter refers to the stage of 15N labeling [i.e., during the grown leaves (leaves produced since the start of the experi- vegetative (V) or forcing (F) period] and 0%, 10%, and 100% ment), mature leaves (all leaves other than newly grown refer to fertilization during the reproductive stage with 0%-, leaves), stem, and roots, measured for dry weight, and ground 10%-, and 100%-strength Johnson’s solution (Johnson et al., to fine powder for analysis of total N and 15N concentrations. 1957), respectively. The timing of 15N label application was The roots of plants in the remaining five groups were cleaned designed so that all treatments had the same 15N absorption of the old substrate, washed, and the plants were repotted duration of 6 weeks. into fresh sphagnum moss medium to end 15N-labeling. A 6-week period of vegetative growth in a phytotron at 30/ Plants were then subjected to the second phase of the 25 °C day/night temperature with maximum light intensity of experiment. 450 mmolÁm–2Ás–1 constituted the first phase of the experiment A 12-week period of cultivation in a phytotron at 25/20 °C (Fig. 1). All plants received the same fertilization, which was day/night temperature with maximum light intensity of 450 mmolÁm–2Ás–1 constituted the second, forcing phase of the experiment (Fig. 1). During this period, plants in the V 100% and F 100% groups were fertigated with full-strength Johnson’s solution, whereas those in the V 10% and F 10% groups were fertigated with 10%-strength Johnson’s solution. Plants in the V 0% group were irrigated with dis- tilled water. Fertigation was done when the surface of the sphagnum moss appeared dry by subirrigating each pot with 200 mL of water or fertilizer solution as indicated in the various treatments. Six weeks into the forcing period, at which point the plants had spikes averaging 13 cm long, all plants were fertigated and the fertilizer solutions for the F 10% and F 100% groups were la- beled with 11.25 atom% 15N (Fig. 1). Six weeks after 15N treatment during the forcing period, the inflorescences having reached the visible bud stage, the SPAD values of the second and seventh leaves from the apex were measured for all plants with a chlorophyll meter (SPAD502; Minolta, Tokyo, Japan). Seven plants from each treatment were harvested, divided into newly grown leaves, mature leaves, stem, roots, and inflorescence, measured for dry weight, and analyzed for total N and 15N concentrations. The remaining 13 plants in each treatment were transferred to a Venlo-type greenhouse with an average temperature of 19.3 °C Fig. 1. Culture conditions of Phalaenopsis Sogo Yukidian ‘V3’ and treatments for investigating the utilization of and maximum light intensity of stored N under reduced fertilization in the reproductive stage. 400 mmolÁm–2Ás–1 for observation J. AMER.SOC.HORT.SCI. 139(1):76–82. 2014. 77 of flowering. The dates of spiking, first flower anthesis, and first analysis was conducted using SAS software (Version 9.3; SAS flower senescence were recorded and used to calculate the time Institute, Cary, NC). to spiking, time to anthesis, and longevity of first flower. First flower diameter and total number of flowers were also recorded. Results and Discussion Fertilization regimens during the flowering observation period were the same as those during the forcing period (Fig.