ISHS Acta Horticulturae 467: III International Symposium Diversification of Vegetable Crops
GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF ETIOLATED CHICORY (CICHORIUM INTYBUS L.): FROM WILD CHICORY TO WITLOOF |
| Author: | C. Doré |
| Abstract:
Witloof is a vegetable mostly grown and consumed in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It is the result of a two-step culture. The first step consists of obtaining a root from a plant grown in the field, whereas in the second step, the central bud on the root is forced in the dark to produce a leafy etiolated firm head which is the vegetable itself. Traditionally forcing was done in winter, outside, in soil, and roots used to be covered with a layer of soil. Research conducted in genetics, phytotechniques and physiology led to considerable modification in witloof production. Plants able to give a firm head when forced in the absence of covering soil were selected and highly productive and homogeneous F1 hybrid varieties were released. Simultaneously a new forcing system was proposed in dark rooms with the temperature and humidity controlled and where roots are grown without any soil but watered by an adapted nutrient solution. Research has been recently carried out to guarantee 100% hybrid seed production and agronomic evaluation of male sterile cytoplasms is on course. Moreover diversification of witloof is also being considered thanks to crossing with other cultivars which bring red colour and various shapes and flavours. | |
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