THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND AGE OF PLANT AT TRANSPLANTING ON BOLTING AND YIELD OF CHICORY (CICHORIUM INTYBUS L.) CV. ROSSO DI CHIOGGIA GROWN FOR EARLY PRODUCTION

F. Pimpini, G. Gianquinto
Red-leaved chicory (cv. Rosso di Chioggia) was transplanted on February 22, March 2 or March 11 in four different environmental conditions: open field, a polyethylene tunnel (0.15 mm thick) of small cubic dimensions (1.6 m3/m2), a polyethylene tunnel (0.20 mm thick) of larger dimensions (3.2 m3/m2), and a polyethylene tunnel with the same characteristics as the last-mentioned, but fitted with a heating appliance so that the temperature never fell below 4°C (base temperature). From sowing to transplanting, the seedlings were kept in a heated greenhouse (20±2°C) for 25 or 35 days.

Intensity of bolting was influenced by the duration of the plant in low temperatures, and by the actual degree of temperature: in fact, delaying the moment of transplanting caused a strong reduction in bolting, and the more the environmental conditions increased the temperature, the less the occurrence and intensity of bolting. Favourable temperature conditions also increased the production and the quality of yield, and induced earliness.

Seedlings transplanted at 35 days proved to be more sensitive to exposure to low temperatures, with respect to those transplanted at 25 days, showing a greater tendency to bolting.

Pimpini, F. and Gianquinto, G. (1988). THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND AGE OF PLANT AT TRANSPLANTING ON BOLTING AND YIELD OF CHICORY (CICHORIUM INTYBUS L.) CV. ROSSO DI CHIOGGIA GROWN FOR EARLY PRODUCTION. Acta Hortic. 229, 379-386
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.1988.229.42
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1988.229.42

Acta Horticulturae