Calcium Chloride as a Regulator of Floral Stem Bending in Cut-Flower Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.)

Autores/as

  • Analia Verónica Puerta Instituto de Floricultura. Centro de Investigación en Recursos Naturales (INTA). De los Reseros y Nicolas Repetto. Hurlingham. Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1982-9551
  • Carlos Alberto Bouzo Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Cátedra de Fisiología Vegetal. Santa Fe. Argentina https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7983-436X
  • Gunther Mantilla Instituto de Floricultura. Centro de Investigación en Recursos Naturales (INTA). De los Reseros y Nicolas Repetto. Hurlingham. Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1786-8685

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48162/rev.39.216

Palabras clave:

flor de corte, calidad poscosecha, pérdida de turgencia del tallo, consumo de agua, vida en florero

Resumen

Gerbera is an ornamental plant with vibrant and striking colours. However, postharvest stem bending reduces commercial quality and limits vase life by impairing water uptake. Calcium plays a key role in regulating and strengthening the stem structure, thereby reducing curvature and preserving tissue integrity. This study evaluated the effects of calcium chloride (CaCl2) on histochemical, metabolic and structural traits associated with vase life quality in Gerbera jamesonii L. cv. ‘Ruby Red’. Plants were cultivated under greenhouse conditions in a soilless system, and two vase solutions were applied postharvest: 0 and 0.5 g L-1 CaCl2. Measurements were conducted over 17 days in a postharvest room. The 0.5 g L-1 CaCl2 treatment significantly enhanced postharvest quality by extending vase life by 7 days, preserving stem length, increasing tissue calcium content, and promoting favourable histochemical and structural attributes. The findings contribute to the understanding of flower stem physiology and offer an effective strategy to enhance postharvest quality in gerbera.

Highlights:

  • Calcium treatment reduced cell disintegration and limited pith cavity expansion in the bending zone.
  • Modulation of carbohydrate metabolism by CaCl₂ contributed to delayed senescence and an extended vase life.
  • Postharvest CaCl₂ application (0.5 g L⁻¹) effectively suppressed stem curvature by stabilizing cell walls and vascular tissues.
  • This study provides an integrated histochemical, metabolic, and structural analysis of the effects of CaCl₂ on gerbera stem bending.

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Citas

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Publicado

27-05-2026

Cómo citar

Puerta, A. V., Bouzo, C. A., & Mantilla, G. (2026). Calcium Chloride as a Regulator of Floral Stem Bending in Cut-Flower Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.). Revista De La Facultad De Ciencias Agrarias Uncuyo, 58(1), e9111. https://doi.org/10.48162/rev.39.216

Número

Vol. 58 Núm. 1 (2026): Enero-Junio

Sección

Ecofisiología y Manejo de cultivo

Licencia

Creative Commons License

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