Heading cabbage plants, Brassica oleracea L. (Capitata group) grown under humidity conditions which allowed root pressure flow to occur during the dark period, as indicated by the occurrence of guttation from the leaf margins, remained free of tipburn. Plants grown under conditions which prevented root pressure flow from occurring developed tipburn on both wrapper and inner head leaves. The effect of root pressure flow on 45 Ca transport was studied in cabbage plants in the rosette stage of growth. Heads were simulated by covering the inner leaves of the plants. 45 Ca was readily transported to inner “head” leaves under high humidity which allowed root pressure flow to occur, while very little 45 Ca was moved to these leaves under low humidity which prevented root pressure flow. The data indicate that root pressure flow is required to move adequate amounts of Ca to prevent tipburn in head leaves of cabbage.
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Palzkill et al. (1976) studied this question.