Flower damage: a case study

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1965 · Orchid Dig.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6438790

James, H A

A review of the recorded losses of Cattleya orchid blooms found in the records of 5 Bay Area growers shows a distinct increasing seasonal loss pattern from ethylene. The losses due to ''dried sepal'' were compared with the total daily and monthly production. Daily orchid bloom losses in excess of 90 percent were found, with a least two growers losing over 60 percent of total month's cut. Highest bloom losses were experienced in San Leandro and South San Francisco with lesser losses in Larkspur, Mt. Eden and San Bruno. Qualitative checks of growers in other sites revealed orchid losses to be wide spread. From the record of these latter growers, only Pacific and Mill Valley had no damage at the time of the visits. The ''dried sepal'' damage is attributed to ethylene since it can be produced by exposure to this gas; ethylene has been found to be present on numerous occasions preceding appearance of symptoms, and no other causative agent has been found in sufficient concentrations in ambient air sampling to cause such an effect.

• Research Organization: Bay Area Air Pollution Control District, San Francisco, CA
• OSTI ID: 6438790
• Journal Information: Orchid Dig.; (United States), Vol. 29:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ETHYLENE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
FLOWERS
INJURIES
AIR POLLUTION
CALIFORNIA
PLANTS
SAN FRANCISCO BAY
ALKENES
FEDERAL REGION IX
HYDROCARBONS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PACIFIC OCEAN
POLLUTION
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
560303* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)