THE GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND YIELD OF HEADED CHINESE CABBAGE IN AUTUMN PROTECTED CULTURE IN TRANSYLVANIAN TABLELAND SPECIFIC CONDITIONS

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1 THE GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND YIELD OF HEADED CHINESE CABBAGE IN AUTUMN PROTECTED CULTURE IN TRANSYLVANIAN TABLELAND SPECIFIC CONDITIONS Laczi Enikő, Al. Apahidean, E. Luca, Adelina Dumitraş, Păuniţa Boancă Univeristy of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Horticulture, Mănăştur St.3-5, , Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Abstract. Headed Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris var. pekinensis) is a member of the cole crops being an important fresh and processed vegetable in special in Asian countries. It can be cultivated in several periods of the year. The present research was conducted at University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca. The aim of the research was the study of the behavior of several Chinese cabbage varieties and hybrids in autumn protected culture in Transylvanian Tableland specific conditions. The results showed that yields up to 63 t/ha can be obtain in these culture, if there is practiced an improved cultivation technology, most valuable variety being Granat. Keywords: hybrids, protected culture, Chinese cabbage INTRODUCTION Headed Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris var. pekinensis) is a member of the cole crops being an important fresh and processed vegetable in special in Asian countries. The origin of this vegetable is considered to be China, where it has been cultivated for a long period (King and Jiping, 1996). It has spread all aver the world, in China and all parts of Asia, in Europe, Africa and America. Those varieties which are resistant to high temperatures are cultivated even in tropical countries like Nigeria and Brazil (Larcom, 2008). Even if by his nature, Chinese cabbage is a biannual plant, because of its short vegetation period that allows obtaining the cabbage heads and seed in the same year, it is considered an annual plant (Stan and Muntean, 2001; Apahidean and Apahidean, 2005). Heading Chinese cabbage can be cultivated in several periods of the year. Harvest can be made when the cabbage heads are formed, in semi-head stage or even in so called seedling stage, when the cutting is made several times (Maruo et al., 2003; Takagaki et al., 2003). MATERIAL AND METHODS The present research was conducted at University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca, the experiment taking place in the experimental field which belongs to the Vegetable Growing Department. The aim of the research was the study of the behavior of several Chinese cabbage varieties and hybrids in autumn protected culture in Transylvanian Tableland specific conditions. The planting material consisted from five varieties, as follows: Michihli, Kingdom 80, Granat, Nepa F1, Vitimo F1. Each variety was placed into three repetitions. Seeds were sown in 10 th of August, one by one, in small nutrient pots and were transplanted in bigger pots in stage of 3-4 true leaves, in 25 th of August. Planting was made in 15 th of September in a polyethylene tunnel. During the vegetation period, there were not necessary any treatments or fertilizations. Harvest started in 25 th of November (at Granat variety and Nepa F1 and Michihli hybrids) and ended in 9 th

2 of December, being harvested cabbage heads which reached the specific weight of the variety. During growing season observations were made regarding plants growth and development, at harvest on the yield quality and quantity of the cabbage heads was pursued to. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Results regarding the growth and development of the plants. The seedlings from Granat variety presented the highest diameter (24.33 cm) and had the highest weight (13.67 g), while the seedlings from Nepa F1 hybrid were the highest ones (24.5 cm) having in average the most leaves to (8 leaves). Michihli hybrid has the most undeveloped seedlings, with the average height of cm, diameter of cm, only 8.9 g and 7 leaves (Table 1). No. Variaty / Hybrid Development degree of plants in planting phase Plant height Plant diameter Table 1 Plant weight (g) 1 Michihli Kingdom Granat Nepa F Vitimo F ,43 Average The measurements made one month after planting revealed that plants height varied between cm, at Kingdom 80 hybrid, and cm, at Granat variety, which had also the highest diameter (53.83 cm). The average leaf number varied between 11.50, at Michihli and Vitimo hybrids and at Kingdom 80 hybrid (Table 2). Table 2 Development degree of plants one month after planting Plant height Plant diameter 1 Michihli Kingdom Granat Nepa F Vitimo F Average As same as at planting and during vegetation period, at harvest to the higher values of the followed characteristics were observed at Granat variety (average height of cm, average weight of 0.96 kg) and Kingdom 80 hybrid (average diameter of cm and leaves) (Table 3). Michihli hybrid registered the lowest average weight (0.77 kg) and the lowest number of total leaves (33.83 leaves).

3 Table 3 Development degree of plants at maturity Plant Height Diameter Total weight Number of (kg) leaves 1 Michihli Kingdom Granat Nepa F Vitimo F Average At harvest (Table 4) the cabbage heads had an average height which varied between cm (at Vitimo hybrid) and cm (at Granat variety), a diameter which varied between cm (at Granat variety) and cm (at Kingdom 80 hybrid). The weight was between 0.57 kg (at Michihli hybrid) and 0.79 kg (at Granat variety), while the number of leaves varied between (at Michihli hybrid) and (at Kingdom 80 hybrid). Table 4 Development degree of cabbage head at harvest Cabbage head Height Diameter Total weight Number of (kg) leaves 1 Michihli Kingdom Granat Nepa F Vitimo F Average The rosettes of plants are formed from a low number of leaves which is according to the requirements of the producers, well being known that these leaves are eliminated before selling the cabbage heads. The data collected show that the rosettes contain from 5.17 leaves at Vitimo hybrid to 6.17 leaves at Kingdom 80 hybrid. The cabbage heads are formed from leaves at Michihli hybrid and leaves at Kingdom 80 hybrid (fig. 1) Michihli Kingdom 80 Granat Nepa F1 Vitimo F1 Rosette 5,67 6,17 5,67 5,83 6,17 Head 28,17 58,33 36,00 30,33 39,17 Total 33,83 64,50 41,67 36,17 45,33 Fig. 1. Leaf layout on plants

4 The average bolting percentage a month after planting was already 4.17%, while at harvest it had a value of 10%. The only hybrid which hasn t recorded bolted plants was Vitimo (fig. 2). The highest number of bolted plants was registered at Michihli and Nepa hybrids, both of them having a bolting percentage higher than 16.50%. Bolting percentage (%) 18,00 16,00 14,00 12,00 1 8,00 6,00 4,00 2,00 16,67 16,67 12,50 1 8,33 8,33 Michihli Kingdom 80 Granat Nepa F1 Vitimo F1 Average One month after planting At harvest Fig. 2. Bolting percentage Results regarding the obtained yield The average yield of this experiment was t/ha. Compared to this value, Granat variety presented a yield increasing of 19.8%, the t/ha difference being very significant positive. Michihli hybrid, with a lower production (with 13,2%) realized a very significant negative difference. If Granat variety, with an average yield of t/ha, is taken as control variant, all the other variants had lower yields (between t/ha and t/ha), all the differences being very significant negatives (Table 5). Variaty / Hybrid Table 5 Unilateral influence of the cultivar upon the Chinese cabbage yield / Average Relative Relative Difference Difference yield Significance yield Significance yield (t/ha) (t/ha) (t/ha) (%) (%) Granat Ct *** Kingdom ooo Michihli ooo oo Nepa F ooo Vitimo F ooo Average Mt. LSD (p 5%) LSD (p 1%) LSD (p 0,1%) CONCLUSIONS The protected culture of Chinese cabbage assure a late production (at the end of November to the beginning of December), which has many benefits because in that time of

5 the year there are only a few leafy vegetables in the market, so Chinese cabbage heads can be sold not only easily, but with a good price to. Yield up to 63 t/ha can be obtain in these culture, if there is practiced an improved cultivation technology. The bolting of Chinese cabbage is in strong relationship not with the pedoclimatic conditions, with the time and the period of culture, a strong influence having the cultivated variety to. From the point of view of the yield Granat variety is recommended to be taken in culture, while from the bolting avoidance point of view Vitimo hybrid is strongly recommended. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This paper was published under the frame of European Social Fund, Human Resources Development Operational Programme , project no. POSDRU/159/1.5/S/ REFERENCES 1. Apahidean, Al. S., Maria Apahidean. (2005). Cultivarea legumelor, a specialităţilor horticole şi a produselor de seră, Programul Phare Coeziune ecologică şi socială, Cluj-Napoca King, T. and Z. Jiping. (1996). Case Studies of Chinese Economic Reform, The International Bank for Reconstruction, Larkcom Joy. (2008). Oriental vegetables, Kodansha International Ltd. Tokyo, Maruo, T., S. Akimoto, N. Wada, M. Tto, M. Takagaki, Y. Shinahara. (2003). New leaf vegetable production system using automatic reaping harvester and rail system, Acta Horticulturae, vol. 620, Stan, N. şi N. Munteanu. (2001). Legumicultură Volumul II, Editura Ion Ionescu de la Brad, Iaşi, Takagaki, T., S. Amuka, T. Maruo, S. Sukprakan, Y. Shinohara. (2003).Application of reaping method for harvesting leafy vegetables grown in capillary hydroponic system, Acta Horticulturae, vol. 620,