Effect of Some Treatments on Globe Artichoke Seed Poroduction Under Egyptian Condition a-Foliar Spray With Boron and Potassium on Head and Seed Yield.

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted at Baramoon Research Station, Mansoura, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt during the two successive seasons of 2011/12 and 2012/13, to study the effect of foliar spray with boron (25 and 50 ppm) or potassium (1000 and 2000 ppm) and their combination on earliness, yield and quality, chemical composition as well as seed yield of globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) c.v green globe. The obtained results could be summarized as follows:- Early yield, total yield and head characters were significantly increased, in both seasons, in response to foliar spray with boron or potassium levels and there mixture.  Foliar spray with 50 ppm B + 2000 ppm K significantly affect the concentration of N,P,K,total sugars and inulin of globe artichoke in both seasons of study.  Number and weight of seeds /head as well as weight of100 seeds and germination percentage on different orders were positively and significantly responded to foliar spray with boron or potassium levels and their mixture in the two seasons. While, No significant difference was found between 50 ppm B + 2000 ppm K or 50 ppm B + 1000 ppm K. In general, most studied characteristics of the plants received foliar spray with boron and potassium were better than those of control. Increasing the rate of foliar spray with boron and /or potassium significantly increased early yield total yield, head characters ,chemical components and head position characters including number and weight of seeds/ head as well as weight of100 seeds and germination percentage.It could be stated that, foliar spray of globe artichoke with boron at 50 ppm and potassium at 1000 ppm is a promising practices for getting the highest seed yield and quality under local Egyptian conditions