Reaction norms of three artichoke cultivars.

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

ACTA HORTICULTURAE

Año: 2004 vol. 660 p. 69 - 75

0567-7572

Depending on environments conditions one genotype can express diverse phenotypes and conversely a particular phenotype can be produced by different genotypes. The present experience was conducted in order to determine the extend of reaction norms of three artichoke cultivars under different environments in Zavalla, Argentina. As experimental material three seed-grown cultivars were used ‘Violeto Invernale’, ‘Imperial Star’ and ‘Population 12’. The two last ones were also included as vegetatively propagated suckers. Transplanting was conducted in April 2002 in a randomized design in three distinct environments: open field, glass greenhouse and polyethylene or plastic greenhouse. Total number of artichokes and yield per plant, mean weight of the heads, days to first harvest and length of the harvest period, and the vegetative characters: height to the base of the principal head, leaf number and plant height and diameter were analyzed along a three factorial ANOVA. Waller-Duncan test was used for the comparison of means. Highest yield per plant (1079.2 g) due to an augmented head/plant (6), precocity (167 days) and extended harvest period was obtained in the plastic greenhouse. Under this environments the vegetative characters also expressed the highest values. In all three environments ‘Violeto Invernale’ was on top for the evaluated characters, possessing a superior norm of reaction. ‘Population 12’ in turn presented the lowest values. Except for mean weight of the heads, seed grown plant were superior to vegetatively propagated ones.