Articles
EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF OVOLI FOR ‘SPINOSO SARDO’ ARTICHOKES PROPAGATION
Article number
983_48
Pages
345 – 350
Language
English
Abstract
Propagation of the Sardinian spiny artichoke Spinoso sardo is carried out by means of ovoli, hypertrophied dormant buds removed from the rhizome during the period of rest.
Normally cigar shaped ovoli weighing between 20 and 35 g are preferred.
These are transplanted in the field while still dormant and start growing during the summer.
Smaller ovoli are not usually used as they can only be transplanted after shoot and root development in nurseries.
However, because of the high production costs involved in multiplying selected and disease-free mother plants by in vitro culture of apical meristems, it was considered appropriate to use all the rhizome propagation material, thereby increasing multiplication rate while reducing costs.
The trial was carried out for two consecutive years in 2009 and 2010 and in both cases the propagation material was removed from the rhizome at the end of July.
The ovoli were transplanted on 9 September 2009 and 17 August 2010, following a growing period under shade to facilitate rooting.
Harvesting began on 14 January 2010 and 20 January 2011 respectively and was terminated on 30 March in both years.
Growth was regular in all plants tested.
The data collected concerned production of heads in both years, subdivided by order of emission, and the biometric characteristics of the heads and stalks, determined only in the first year.
No significant differences in terms of production and quality were found, demonstrating that even small ovoli can be effectively used as propagation material from mother Spinoso sardo artichoke plants.
Normally cigar shaped ovoli weighing between 20 and 35 g are preferred.
These are transplanted in the field while still dormant and start growing during the summer.
Smaller ovoli are not usually used as they can only be transplanted after shoot and root development in nurseries.
However, because of the high production costs involved in multiplying selected and disease-free mother plants by in vitro culture of apical meristems, it was considered appropriate to use all the rhizome propagation material, thereby increasing multiplication rate while reducing costs.
The trial was carried out for two consecutive years in 2009 and 2010 and in both cases the propagation material was removed from the rhizome at the end of July.
The ovoli were transplanted on 9 September 2009 and 17 August 2010, following a growing period under shade to facilitate rooting.
Harvesting began on 14 January 2010 and 20 January 2011 respectively and was terminated on 30 March in both years.
Growth was regular in all plants tested.
The data collected concerned production of heads in both years, subdivided by order of emission, and the biometric characteristics of the heads and stalks, determined only in the first year.
No significant differences in terms of production and quality were found, demonstrating that even small ovoli can be effectively used as propagation material from mother Spinoso sardo artichoke plants.
Authors
A.B. Pisanu, M. Cadinu, S. Meloni, S. Beneventi, M. Maxia, L. Baghino, M. Muntoni
Keywords
propagation, artichoke, earliness, head production, ovoli
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