engleski

Crop Strategies Impact on Yield and Head Quality Components of Globe Artichoke in Southwest Texas

Introduction of artichokes in the Wintergarden of Texas, an area with mild winters and hot summers, depends on the development of strategies that will overcome limiting climatic conditions for bolting, earliness, and length of harvest. Cultivars with different bolting requirements were evaluated at two planting times and irrigation rates. The cultivars Emerald, Experimental Red, Imperial Star, Green Globe, and Purple Romagnia were transplanted in the field on 27 Sept. and 3 Dec. 2004, and evaluated at 100% and 75% crop evapotranspiration rates (ETc) at Uvalde, Texas (29°1′ N, 99°5′ W). Harvests started on 24 Mar. and 21 Apr. 2005 for the first and second planting dates, respectively. Yield increased more than 3-fold for the first compared to the second planting date. Irrigation rates did not affect yield, water use efficiency, or head quality. The cultivars Emerald, Imperial Star, and Experimental Red were earlier than Green Globe and Purple Romagnia. The highest yield was measured for cv. Imperial Star, while the largest head weight was for cv. Green Globe. Total fibers, crude protein, and phenolic compounds concentration depended on cultivar, whereas the total sugar concentrations in the edible part of the head were similar among cultivars. Head weight, percentage of heart, and crude protein concentration decreased, whereas total fiber content increased as the harvesting season progressed. Integrating environmental and cultivar strategies aimed at earliness, large head size, and enhanced level of health-promoting compounds, will contribute to the potential production of globe artichokes in the region.

Cynara scolymus; cultivar; planting date; WUE; quality; yield

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