YIELD AND QUALITY OF GLOBE ARTICHOKE GROWN BY DIFFERENT PROPAGATION METHODS IN ASSIUT

Abstract

This study was conducted in the Agricultural Research Station, Assiut University during the growing seasons of 199912000 and 2000/200 I. It was implemented to evaluate the artichoke propagation by transplants versus stumps and offshoots and planting at close in-row space (60 em) comparing with the usually used ones (80-1 00 em). Thus, the study comprised nine factorial treatment combinations. The evaluation parameters were the percentage of plant-stand, the number ofthd1arvested heads, the average head weight, the head length, the head diameter at the bottom, the head diameter at the top one-third portion and the ratio of top to bottom diameter. All data were subjected to analysis of variance. Additionally, the analysis of covariance was used to adjust the number of heads per plot to the differential plant-stand of the different studied treatments.

There were no significant interaction between propagation and plant spacing treatments in the analysis of variance. The comparisons of mean differences due to each of the propagation material and in-row plant spaces showed the following:

1- Plant stand:

Propagation by transplants gave lower percentage of plant stand than stumps and offshoots. In-row plant spacing did 1,10t affect the plant stand. 2- Head yield

2-A-early yield: No significant differences in the number ofheads were detected among the means of the different propagation or plant spacing treatments.