ISHS Acta Horticulturae 942: VII International Symposium on Artichoke, Cardoon and Their Wild Relatives
INTEGRATED APPROACHES FOR ANNUAL ARTICHOKE PRODUCTION IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS |
| Authors: | D.I. Leskovar, T. Shinohara, S. Agehara, B. Patil |
| Keywords: | deficit irrigation, nitrogen, gibberellic acid, transplant stress, phenolic compounds |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.942.32 |
| Abstract:
Cultural strategies on globe artichoke [Cynara cardunculus L. subsp. scolymus (L.) Hayek] have been evaluated for growth, physiology and yield during the last three years in the Wintergarden of southwest Texas. Studies were conducted on transplant stress tolerance to improve stand establishment; irrigation and nitrogen application rates to enhance yield and nutritional quality of heads; gibberellic acid and plasticulture to induce earliness, improve yield and extend the harvest season; and cultivar screening for adaptability to the region. Post-transplanting heat (35/20°C vs. 25/10°C, day/night temperatures) or drought (30% vs. 60% water holding capacity) stress alone or in combination, significantly reduced shoot and root growth of artichoke seedlings. Abscisic acid (ABA) applied at 1000 mg•L-1 enhanced drought tolerance of transplants, response that was associated with the maintenance of shoot water status via stomatal closure. Compared to ABA other film-forming antitranspirants were not effective for stress mitigation. Field experiments under three irrigation (50, 75 and 100% ETc) and four N (0-180 kg•ha-1) rates revealed that irrigation was more effective than N application rates to optimize artichoke yield. Yield reduction by 50% ETc was associated with a decrease in head number and weight. The highest yield was obtained with 100% ETc and 120 kg•ha-1 N. In terms of cultivars, total marketable yields were highest for ‘Green Globe Improved’, ‘Concerto’, ‘Madrigal’, ‘Imperial Star’ and ‘Lorca’, particularly under black plastic mulch (11% higher than bare-soil). By integrating results from these experiments we have established commercial crop guidelines for annual artichoke production which are currently being introduced to growers in the region. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
