PREVENTION OF TIPBURN IN FENNEL

In the Netherlands the incidence of brown discoloration of blade edges of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum Mill.) in field cultivation is increasing.
It results in downgrading of the produce.
This disorder seems to be physiological and is thought to be caused by a lack of calcium in blade edge tissue.
Cultivars were tested for susceptibility to this type of tipburn during the period 1994–1996. The progress of the tipburn occurrence was followed in the field and during the shelf life.
The degree of tipburn increased both in the field and during the shelf life.
The influence of water availability on tipburn was investigated by creating different pF situations in field and greenhouse cultivation.
Sufficient moisture during the cultivation gave good prevention against tipburn.
In pot trials a pF <2.4 largely prevented the incidence of tipburn.
Maturity of the crop in relation to tipburn was also evaluated.
Harvesting a young product decreased the tipburn attack.
Tipburn incidence in fennel, thus, can be reduced by the use of less susceptible cultivars in combination with sufficient moisture during the growing period and by harvesting a young product.

VIII International Symposium on Timing Field Production in Vegetable Crops

C.A.P. van Wijk, R. van den Broek

Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum Mill, tipburn, cultivars, soil pF, maturity, shelf life

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2000.533.73