The Performance of Some Ecotypes of "Baladi" cabbage Brassica olerecea var. capitata Under Assiut Conditions

Abstract

Field trails were conducted during the three years 2002-2005 in the Experimental Farm of Assiut University, to evaluate the effect of five planting dates, from May 15 to September 15 at monthly intervals, on the growth, yield and yield quality of eleven landraces (ecotypes) of the local cv of the Baladi cabbage. These eleven ecotypes were collected from different parts of Egypt covering a wide range of environments. In each year, the experiment consisted of 55 treatments, (the combination of five transplanting date x eleven cabbage accessions), laid out in a split plot design. Only data of the first and second years were presented in the text and reference was made to the third year when some contradiction appeared in the data between the first and second year.

Results showed that transplanting date significantly influenced all studied characters. The entire plant fresh weight was advanced by transplanting on 15 June to 15 August, earlier of later planting, suppressed growth particularly the former compared to the latter (September 15). Growth of the non-edible plant parts (weight of wrapper leaves + stem) followed the same trend. However, stem length and weight were consistently reduced by delay of planting. Also, final plant stand (number of plants/plot) at harvest was promoted by postoponed date. Transplanting date significantly influenced the cabbage yields and head quality. The highest gross yield/feddan (heads with outer green leaves) was shown by either August 15th and/or July 15th plantings, the lowest yield was obtained from May 15th planting. Head quality as indicated by marketable head weight (wrapper leaves+ edible leaves) as well as by net head weight (weight of edible leaves) were the best with transplanting in