PLANT DENSITY AND SEED PRODUCTION OF TWO CULTIVARS OF CHICORY (CICHORIUM INTYBUS L.)

Two experiments were conducted in Southern Italy with two cultivars of chicory such us "Cicoria da foglie" (leaf chicory) and "Cicoria di Galatina" ("asparagus chicory") grown at three plant densities (11.1; 5.6 and 3.7 plant per m^-2). At maturity, the aerial part of the plant was excised or not.
With the closest spacing during the second year a high seed yield, stems per plant and germination percentage were noticed.
Leaving the plants in situ resulted in a faster germination, while the excised plants showed a decrease in seed yield, seed per plant, 1000 seed weight, plant height and number of stems per plant.

The cv.
Cicoria di Galatina showed higher seed yield, less stems per plant and shorter plants; germination one year after harvest decrease markedly respect to "Cicoria da foglie". Moreover the "Cicoria di Galatina" it is not resistent to frost.
Some interesting interactions are discussed.
It is concluded that best seed yield and quality seeds can be obtained with the closest spacing and leaving the plants in situ.

International Symposium on Agrotechnics and Storage of Vegetable and Ornamental Seeds

V.V. Bianco, G. Damato, G. Fanizza

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1994.362.10