ISHS Acta Horticulturae 681: IV International Congress on Artichoke
GLOBE ARTICHOKE SEED TREATMENT TO CONTROL SEEDBORNE FUNGI AND SEED QUALITY EVALUATION |
| Authors: | M. Vilchez, A.O. Paulus, K.S. Mayberry |
| Keywords: | Cynara scolymus, seedborne, phytotoxicity |
| Abstract:
Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is traditionally cultivated as a perennial crop in coastal California. However, new development in cultivars of seeded artichoke have allowed them to be grown as an annual crop in central and southern California. As an annual crop, the artichokes are established by direct seeding or by transplanting 6 week-old plants. Poor germination and death has been observed in seedlings produced for transplants in greenhouse in the low desert of southern California and western Arizona. During seedling establishment in these greenhouses in late summer, day and night temperatures may reach 35 to 40°C (95-105°F) and 29 to 35 (85-95°F) respectively. Our investigation was directed to determine the cause of poor germination and seedling death. Rhizopus, Alternaria, and Aspergillus spp. were consistently isolated from seed. Pathogenicity test using these fungi were negative. Seed treatment with 8-hydroxy quinoline sulphate, thiram, captan and sodium hypochlorite gave excellent control; hot water (57°C (135°F) for 5, 10 and 20 minutes) had intermediate control compared with the non-treated. Seeds treated with 8-hydroxy quinoline sulphate, thiram, and captan resulted in better germination than other treatments. The results of our investigation show that poor germination and seedling death is due to the combination of poor seedling vigor under high temperatures, mechanical injury and immature seed. Thiram is registered to treat artichoke seed in California and was not phytotoxic as reported by the seed industry. | |
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