Physiological responses, growth, and floral stem quality of Heliconia species treated with salicylic acid and kaolin under full-sun in a semi-arid condition
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/2447-536X.v32.e323140Keywords:
Chlorophyll fluorescence, membrane integrity, photosynthetic pigments, tropical floricultureAbstract
Tropical floriculture is an economically relevant activity, particularly for family farming, because of the high added value of cut flowers and the potential for rapid financial returns. Among tropical ornamentals, Heliconia species are valued for their diversity of colors and forms. However, cultivation under full-sun conditions in semi-arid regions exposes plants to high solar irradiance, which may constrain physiological performance and growth. This study evaluated the effects of foliar applications of salicylic acid (SA) and kaolin on the physiological responses, vegetative growth, and floral stem quality of Heliconia bihai cv. Lobster Claw Two, Heliconia rostrata, Heliconia psittacorum cv. Red Opal, and Heliconia psittacorum × Heliconia spathocircinata cv. Golden Torch grown under full-sun conditions in the Submiddle São Francisco Valley, Brazil. Treatments consisted of SA at 0, 100, 200, and 300 mg L-1 and kaolin at 50 g L-1, arranged in a randomized complete block design. Chlorophyll a fluorescence, photosynthetic pigments, membrane integrity, vegetative growth, and floral stem quality were evaluated. Foliar treatments modulated PSII photochemistry, photosynthetic pigment contents, and membrane integrity, with responses depending on species, treatment, and phenological phase. Among the evaluated species, H. rostrata showed the most consistent favorable physiological responses, particularly to kaolin and SA at 100 and 200 mg L-1 during the reproductive phase. However, these physiological and biochemical responses were not consistently translated into improved vegetative growth or floral stem quality compared with the water control, with these traits remaining predominantly species-dependent. Overall, SA and kaolin induced species-specific physiological adjustments in Heliconia under full-sun semi-arid conditions, but no generalized beneficial effect was observed across the evaluated species, highlighting the importance of species-specific management when considering these compounds as photoprotective strategies.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Heberte Fernandes de Figueredo, Valéria Brito dos Reis, Edgar Alves Freire Ferraz, João Victor Martins Bamberg, Tarcísio Cícero de Lima Araújo, Mônica Cristina Rezende Zuffo Borges, Rafaela Ribeiro de Souza, Márkilla Zunete Beckmann-Cavalcante
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