title: Effect of calcium sprays on mechanical strength and cell wall fractions of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora pall.) inflorescence stems.
abstract: Calcium is an essential element and imparts significant structural rigidity to the plant cell walls, which provide the main mechanical support to the entire plant. In order to increase the mechanical strength of the inflorescence stems of herbaceous peony, the stems are treated with calcium chloride. The results shows that preharvest sprays with 4% (w/v) calcium chloride three times after bud emergence are the best at strengthening "Da Fugui" peonies' stems. Calcium sprays increased the concentrations of endogenous calcium, total pectin content as well as cell wall fractions in herbaceous peonies stems, and significantly increased the contents of them in the top segment. Correlation analysis showed that the breaking force of the top segment of peonies' stems was positively correlated with the ratio of water insoluble pectin to water soluble pectin (R = 0.673) as well as lignin contents (R = 0.926) after calcium applications.
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.|Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture Yangzhou Vocational College of Environment and Resources, Yangzhou 225127, China.
authors.forename: Chengzhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
authors.forename: Daqiu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
authors.forename: Jintao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ge
mesh_terms: D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D056626:Inflorescence / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism; D029596:Paeonia; D010368:Pectins / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects*; D014574:Uronic Acids / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014574:Uronic Acids; D010368:Pectins; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin; D002122:Calcium Chloride