Influence of plant shading and ovoli typology on globe artichoke development, early production and head atrophy: preliminary results

In the North-West of Sardinia (Italy) a two-year experiment was carried out
during 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 to test plant shading and ovoli typology effect on
the development, early production and head atrophy of globe artichoke (Cynara
cardunculus L. var. scolymus Fiori) cv "Spinoso sardo". Four intensities of plant
shading (0%, 30%, 60% and 90%) were combined as main plots with two ovoli
typologies (ovoidi and sigaroidi) as subplot in a split-plot experiment design with
four replications. From 6 to 28 July 1999 and from 11 July to 7 August 2000 the four
shading intensities were applied in the nursery after the ovoli dormancy breaking,
before transplanting the plant from pots to the open field at the 3rd leaf stage. All the
early produced heads were harvested and measurements were taken on stem weight,
head diameter, length and weight. The intensity of shading influenced head weight,
head atrophy, the percentage of early productive plants, the number of early
harvested heads and the number of leaves per plant. The ovoli typology influenced
the number of early harvested heads, the stem weight, the head weight, the head
atrophy and the number of leaves per plant.