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    Home»Blog»Education»Inner leaf “tip-burn” in lettuce
    Education

    Inner leaf “tip-burn” in lettuce

    By urbanagnewsApril 8, 20197 Comments5 Mins Read
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    Published by e-Gro

    Not all nutritional problems are caused by supplying too much or too little of a certain nutrient. “Tip-burn” of inner leaves is a common problem in hydroponic lettuce, where the margins of the young emerging leaves develop necrosis and burn as shown in Figure 1. The necrosis is from a calcium deficiency, but the actual problem is more the result of poor environmental conditions and water uptake. The lettuce in Figure 1 received an adequate supply of all plant essential nutrients in the hydroponic nutrient solution.

    This e-GRO Edibles Alert article covers the cause of inner leaf tip-burn, how to differentiate tip-burn from other forms of marginal leaf necrosis, and best management practices to prevent inner leaf tip-burn during hydroponic production.

    Inner leaf tip-burn is a physiological disorder involving calcium and water uptake

    Calcium moves through plants passively and is carried with the flow of water. As plants transpire and take up water, calcium is essentially “pulled” up from the roots and throughout the plant. Rapid transpiration promotes calcium uptake and distribution within the plant. On the other hand, low transpiration rates decrease calcium uptake and transport.

    The growing tip of lettuce is enclosed by leaves that make up the lettuce “head,” which block air movement and create a very humid micro-environment around the growing tip. This humid microenvironment results in low transpiration of the growing tip and reduces calcium
    transport to the new leaves, even if the outer leaves are transpiring adequately.

    With low transpiration to the growing tip, insufficient transport of calcium causes the tissue along the young leaf tips to collapse and turn necrotic as the leaves expand.

    In this scenario, the problem is not insufficient calcium supplied to the root
    zone, but a physiological disorder related to poor transpiration of water and humid environmental conditions.

    A similar type of physiological disorder occurs with fruiting crops such as tomato, cucumber, pepper, and eggplant, but is called “blossom end rot.” Fruits have relatively low transpiration rates, and under rapid fruit growth and swelling, localized calcium deficiency occurs at the base of the fruit. The collapsed plant tissue also turns necrotic and resembles rotting as show in Figure 2.

    Drought stress, high soluble salts, and chemical phytotoxicity can also cause leaf tip-burn in lettuce and other leafy greens.
    However, symptoms of these problems tend to occur on older and mature leaves, whereas inner leaf tip-burn from poor transpiration and calcium transport occurs in young expanding leaves within the head.

    Avoiding inner leaf “tip-burn” in lettuce

    Unfortunately, there is no way to salvage necrotic leaf tissue. But there are
    strategies growers can use to facilitate calcium uptake and prevent inner leaf tipburn.

    Fertilize with adequate amounts of calcium.

    First check that adequate calcium is supplied in the nutrient program. Supplying 40-50ppm of calcium in the applied fertilizer or hydroponic nutrient solution is a good starting point.

    Depending on the source, the raw irrigation water may also contain calcium. Increasing calcium in the nutrient solution can help with calcium uptake and reduce inner leaf tip-burn problems, but remember the real problem is more often related to environmental conditions that affect water transpiration.

    Calcium foliar sprays.

    Weekly foliar sprays with calcium solution is a strategy to increase calcium concentrations directly in plant tissues. A starting rate is 400ppm calcium mixed using calcium chloride fertilizer salts (not calcium nitrate). Always trial on a few plants before the whole crop. This strategy can be labor intensive and may leave residues on leaf surfaces, and is not often used in commercial practice for lettuce.

    Modify the growing climate.

    Low relative humidity and air movement increase plant transpiration and facilitate calcium uptake. Consider manipulating the greenhouse heating and venting systems to dehumidify the air during cool and cloudy weather. Increase use of horizontal and vertical airflow fans to improve air movement (Figures 3 and 4). Conditions that promote rapid plant growth and leaf expansion promote inner leaf tip-burn, and shading/cooling under excessively high light and temperature conditions can help minimize risk.

    Avoid antagonistic effects from other fertilizer nutrients.

    High concentrations of ammonium nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium in the nutrient solution can block calcium uptake by roots. Tips to prevent nutrient antagonisms include limiting ammonium to 15% of total supplied nitrogen and maintaining the ratio of calcium:potassium at approximately 1:2 and the ratio of calcium:magnesium at approximately 2:1 in the applied nutrient solution.

    Avoid high soluble salts.

    High soluble salts reduce the ability for plants to take up water and calcium. If possible, maintain root zone electrical conductivity below 2.0 mS/cm.

    Select resistant varieties.

    Work with your seed supplier to select varieties specifically bred for lower susceptibility to inner leaf tip-burn.

    e-GROAlert
    www.e-gro.org
    CONTRIBUTORS
    Dr. Nora Catlin, FloricultureSpecialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension
    SuffolkCounty, nora.catlin@cornell.edu
    Dr. ChrisCurrey, Assistant Professor of Floriculture
    Iowa State University, ccurrey@iastate.edu
    Dr. Ryan Dickson, Greenhouse Horticulture and
    Controlled-Environment Agriculture, University of Arkansas
    ryand@uark.edu
    Nick Flax, Commercial HorticultureEducator
    Penn State Extension, nzf123@psu.edu
    Thomas Ford, Commercial HorticultureEducator
    Penn State Extension, tgf2@psu.edu
    DanGilrein, Entomology Specialist
    Cornell Cooperative Extension, SuffolkCounty
    dog1@cornell.edu
    Dr. Joyce Latimer, Floriculture Extension & Research
    Virginia Tech, jlatime@vt.edu
    HeidiLindberg, Floriculture Extension Educator
    Michigan State University, wolleage@anr.msu.edu
    Dr. RobertoLopez, Floriculture Extension &Research
    Michigan State University, rglopez@msu.edu
    Dr. Neil Mattson, Greenhouse Research & Extension
    Cornell University, neil.mattson@cornell.edu
    Dr. W. Garrett Owen, Floriculture Outreach Specialist, Michigan State University
    wgowen@msu.edu
    Dr. Rosa E. Raudales, Greenhouse Extension Specialist
    University of Connecticut, rosa.raudales@uconn.edu
    Dr. Beth Scheckelhoff, Extension Educator – GreenhouseSystems
    The Ohio State University, scheckelhoff.11@osu.edu
    Dr. PaulThomas, Floriculture Extension &Research
    University of Georgia, pathomas@uga.edu
    Dr. ArianaTorres-Bravo, Horticulture/ Ag. Economics
    PurdueUniversity, torres2@purdue.edu
    Dr. Brian Whipker, Floriculture Extension & Research
    NC StateUniversity, bwhipker@ncsu.edu
    Dr. Jean Williams-Woodward, Ornamental Extension Plant Pathologist
    University of Georgia, jwoodwar@uga.edu
    Copyright ©2019
    Where trade names, proprietary products, or specific equipment are listed, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement, guarantee or warranty is implied by the authors, universities or associations.

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    7 Comments

    1. Carol on February 15, 2023 7:04 am

      Just want to say THANK YOU for sharing this information. I’m a very bad gardener and I am trying to grow indoors with gro lights and I’m surprised about how well it is going. But my lettuce started showing this, and I am very curious about everything. I’m glad I found you! Thank you. I want to hug you all! 🙂

      Reply
      • urbanagnews on February 20, 2023 1:11 am

        Hi Carol,

        We’re so glad you are finding the information useful! Thanks!

        Reply
    2. Terri E. on February 6, 2024 9:54 am

      Thank you so much for all the information your article provided. Is this lettuce safe to eat after removing the “burn” edges?
      Terri

      Reply
    3. Terri E. on February 6, 2024 10:03 am

      Thank you for all the information your article has provided. Is the lettuce safe to eat after removing the burn from the leaves?
      Appreciate your help.
      Terri

      Reply
      • Joy on April 1, 2024 12:51 am

        Wondering the same thing. Also have root burn and trying to salvage some harvesting Hope an answer to your question comes in.

        Reply
      • Joy on April 1, 2024 12:52 am

        Awaiting answer too.

        Reply
      • urbanagnews on April 2, 2024 2:15 am

        Hi Terri, thanks for your question. Yes, the lettuce is safe to eat after removing the tip burn.

        Reply
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