GROWTH OF OREOPANAX CAPITATUS AND COCCULUS LAURIFOLIUS IN DIFFERENT PROTECTED ENVIRONMENTS

At Sanremo (Italian Riviera) young plants of two species suitable for cut green production, Oreopanax capitatus and Cocculus laurifolius, were grown in open air or in a greenhouse at different shading levels: 0 (no shading) 44, 72 or 90 % in open air; 0, 44 or 72 % in the greenhouse.
The plants were left in free growth for one year.
During winter Oreopanax leaves in open air were damaged by a frost. Cocculus grew without a main trunk, but with many branches.
The number of trunk leaves and of branches, the diameter of trunk and of branches generally decreased with the increase of the shading level.
On the whole the fastest growth of Oreopanax was obtained by a cultivation in greenhouse without net shading. Cocculus plants grew better unshaded both in open and in greenhouse or with a moderate shading in open air.
In greenhouse Cocculus branches were longer than in open air.
The fresh weight of Oreopanax leaf and Cocculus branch decreased when shading level increased; the highest value was recorded on plants in open air under full sun.
Minor changes affected leaf size and morphology in both species.
Leaf colour was acceptable for marketing on all treatments, but better results were recorded on shaded plants.

V International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Current Trends for Suistainable Technologies

C. Cervelli, P.G. Fadelli, A. Tallone

shading, cut green production, ornamentals, morphology, colour, quality

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.559.10