ISHS Acta Horticulturae 730: VI International Symposium on Artichoke, Cardoon and Their Wild Relatives
AGE OF MOTHER PLANT, HEAD REMOVAL, GA3, YIELD AND QUALITY OF ARTICHOKE ACHENES |
| Authors: | G. Damato, G. Sarli, N. Calabrese |
| Keywords: | Cynara cardunculus L. subsp. scolymus (L.) Hayek, date of head harvest, germination percentage, seed age, cultural practices |
| Abstract:
Three experiments were conducted on artichoke plants (cv. 044) of different age to determine the effects of: a) harvest dates; b) central or lateral heads removal at different time during the vegetative phase and c) GA3 rates on seed yield and quality. In August 1998, heads were harvested from plants of 3, 2 and 1 year(s) transplanted respectively during the summer of 1995, 1996 and 1997. In the first experiment, all the heads were harvested 80, 90 and 100 d after anthesis (DAA) of the central head. In the second one, central heads (CH) or lateral heads (LH) were early eliminated (diameter < 3 cm) or harvested at their marketable maturity. In the third experiment, mother plants were treated once by GA3 (0, 20, 40 or 60 ppm) during grain filling (July). At harvest on each experiment, CH were separated from LH. Seed quality was evaluated 5, 10 and 22 months after harvest (MAH). In all the experiments, the age of mother plants influenced seed yield and germination percentage (GP). Yield per plant, per head and per hectare from mother plants 1 year old were the lowest. GP increased linearly with increasing age of plants (from 49 to 67%). Dates harvest, removal CH or LH at different timing and GA3 rate did not influence seed yield. In the first experiment, a higher GP was observed in achenes from LH picked 90 and 100 DAA. In the second experiment, it was lower in achenes from CH of the control and for achenes from LH when CH was cut at marketable maturity as well as for achenes from CH when LH was cut early. GA3 treatment at 60 ppm improved GP in achenes from CH. Seed age influenced seed quality. In the first experiment, GP was higher 22 MAH while the highest speed of germination was observed 5 MAH. In the second and third experiments GP and speed of germination were higher 10 MAH. | |
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