. Influence of sowing dates over seed-grown artichoke production.

GARCIA, S.M.; COINTRY, E.L.; FIRPO, I.T.; LOPEZ ANIDO, F.S.; CRAVERO, V.P.; ASPRELLI, P.D.

ACTA HORTICULTURAE

Año: 2004 vol. 660 p. 387 - 390

0567-7572

In Argentina seed multiplication practices has not been adopted to a great extent by artichoke horticulturists, hence this specie is grown mainly by vegetative propagated means. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the influence of different sowing dates over seed-grown artichoke production. The experience was conducted in the Experimental Field of the Agronomy Faculty, Rosario National University, located at Zavalla (33º 1’ S, 60º 59’ W). Eight different sowing dates were considered: April, May, June, September, October, November and December 2001 and February 2002. ‘Imperial Star’ seeds were used as plant material along a completed ramdomized design. Artichoke number per plant, mean weight of the heads, yield per ha, days to first harvest and harvest period were analyzed along an ANOVA. Waller-Duncan test was used for mean comparisons. Highly significant differences were found among sowing dates for all evaluated traits. November sowing date showed the highest yield per ha (23.51 t ha-1) due to an increased number (126.8 x 103 /ha) of heavier heads (185.2 g), and a prolonged harvest period (73 days). The most precocious harvest (160 days from sowing) was attained after June sowing. However it presented the lowest yield (3.1 t ha-1), artichoke number (30.1 x 103 /ha), head mean weight (103.1 g) and the shortest harvest period (14 days). In order to attain the highest expression of the productive characters November sowing date seems to be the most reasonable.