MEDIUM, CULTIVAR AND PLANT DENSITY INFLUENCED PRODUCTION AND POSTHARVEST SHELF-LIFE OF RAPHANUS SATIVUS GROWN IN A SOILLESS CULTURE SYSTEM

Soilless culture system (SCS) may be used to produce ready-to-eat radishes.
The research was conducted to investigate radish production in a SCS with ebb-and-flow irrigation.
Two cultivars (‘French Breakfast 2’ and ‘Jolly’) were grown at two densities (125 and 250 plants/m²) in trays filled with two mixtures of peat, perlite and vermiculite (3.5:1.5:0 and 2.5:1.5:1 v/v/v). Radishes were packaged and refrigerated for postharvest shelf-life (16 days). Commercial root production was significantly influenced by medium x cultivar interaction.
With the 2.5:1.5:1 mix, yield reached 1301 g m^-2 for ‘Jolly’ and 826 g m^-2 for ‘French Breakfast 2’; with the 3.5:1.5:0 mix, it decreased for both varieties, but more for ‘Jolly’ (799 vs. 795 g m^-2). The 2.5:1.5:1 mix increased root diameter (18.4 mm) and length (35.0 mm) and decreased number of undeveloped roots (4%) as compared to 3.5:1.5:0 (16.9 mm, 32.1 mm and 10%, respectively). Weight loss during shelf-life was similar for ‘French Breakfast 2’, regardless of the media, while it was greater for ‘Jolly’ grown with 3.5:1.5:0 than with 2.5:1.5:1. Plant density did not influence shelf-life.
Radishes may be produced in a SCS with high plant density and a medium mix containing vermiculite.

VII International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Production, Pest Management and Global Competition

J. Hoeberechts, S. Nicola, E. Fontana, D. Saglietti, G. Piovano

radish, shoot, root, pithiness, weight loss

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.659.102