EFFECT OF ROOT COOLING AND SHADING ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF TROPICAL CAULIFLOWER (BRASSICA OLERACEAE VAR. BOTRYTIS) IN COCONUT COIR DUST CULTURE

The effects of root cooling and aerial shading on the growth and yield of tropical cauliflower (Brassica oleraceae var. botrytis) grown in coconut dust soilless culture were investigated under protected structure at University Putra Malaysia.
Cooling treatments were imposed to the root zone of plants one hour daily.
There were three root cooling treatments i.e. continuous root cooling, root cooling after flower initiation and control (no root cooling) and grown at either 40% shade or unshaded condition.
The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement.
There were no significant interactions between root cooling and shading treatments for vegetative, physiological processes and curd weight.
Root cooling significantly reduced vegetative growth and curd weight.
Stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate were not affected by root cooling treatments.
Shading significantly reduced vegetative growth and curd size but colour of shaded curd was whiter than that of unshaded curd.

International Symposium on Growing Media and Hydroponics

M.R. Ismail, L.J. Ann

curd weight, photosynthetic rate, root zone, stomatal conductance, vegetative growth

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.644.36