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Effects of hydrogen fluoride gas on seven citrus varieties

Journal Article · · Proc. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5963190

Simultaneous exposure of seven different citrus varieties to known concentrations of hydrogen fluoride gas under greenhouse conditions has established the following: (1) Prolonged exposure to the hydrogen fluoride gas was detrimental to all of the varieties tested. (2) The different citrus varieties did not respond alike to the fluoride treatment. The apparent order of decreasing sensitivity was navel orange, Lisbon lemon, Valencia orange, Eureka lemon, red grapefruit, Marsh grapefruit, and Temple orange. (3) The magnitude of the detrimental physiological effects (decreased dry weight, vigor, leaf size, and trunk diameters) of the fluoride fumigation were out of proportion to the amount of photosynthetic area rendered inactive by necrosis, thereby suggesting the presence of hidden injury. (4) Decreased leaf size and increased foliar chlorosis were the two most pronounced visible symptoms of prolonged exposure to low fluoride concentrations. Because of the wide variability in chlorosis patterns, sight diagnosis under field conditions would be extremely unreliable unless supported by chemical analyses of mature foliage. 5. Marginal necrosis, the usual symptom of fluoride injury in other species, was observed on citrus only after exposure to relatively high fluoride concentrations (in excess of 15 ppb). These high fluoride concentrations were the result of and thereby accompanied by unusually high ambient temperatures in the greenhouse fumigation chambers. 5 references, 3 figures, 4 tables.

OSTI ID:
5963190
Journal Information:
Proc. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 75; ISSN PASHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English