ABSTRACT
The aim of these experiments was to assess the influence of light duration and light quality on development of tipburn on yield, and on calcium content of chervil plants. Another purpose was to evaluate the interaction effect of light duration and salinity levels on the influence of tipburn injury. Experiments 1 and 2 were carried out with supplementary light from SON/T lamps in a greenhouse. In Experiment 1 the plants were given the supplement 24 hours a day or 04.00-20.00. In Experiment 2, half of the plants were illuminated in the period of 04.00-20.00. The rest was not given supplementary light. In the first two experiments chervil plants were grown at two salinities: 1 and 2 mS cm-1. In experiment 3 and 4 continuous light from three different lamp sources (high pressure sodium (Philips SON/T) lamps, high pressure mercury (HPI/T metal halide) lamps, fluorescent (Philips) lamps) was given in separate growth chambers. The incidence of tipburn increased with increasing the time of supplementary lighting. There was no interaction effect between light duration and salinity levels. The plants grown under fluorescent lamps weighed less than plants grown under high pressure mercury and high pressure sodium lamps. The plants were elongated when grown under high pressure sodium lamps. The incidence of tipburned leaves was low by fluorescent lamps and largest by high pressure sodium lamps. Calcium content in chervil leaves was smallest by high pressure sodium lamps and largest by fluorescent lamps.
Key words: chervil, tipburn, light duration, light quality, salinity.
