6570141201

SACTA 2 ActaSci. Pol, Hortorum Cultus 11(3) 2012, 131-143

EFFECT OF GROWING DATĘ AND CULTIVAR ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND YIELD OF Brassica rapa var. japonica

Andrzej Kalisz, Agnieszka Sękara, Joanna Kostrzewa

University of Agriculture in Kraków

Abstract. The Brassica rapa var. japonica is a valuable plant, commonly cultivated in the Far East. It is still unknown vegetable crop in Poland. It is necessaiy to assess plant re-sponse to field conditions in Polish climatic zonę before introducing this species to the large-scale production. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of growing datę (transplants were planted out to the field in the middle and at the end of August - l^sl and 2^nd production term. respectKely) and cullhar (Mibuna. Mizuna) on morphological pa-rameters. yielding and Chemical composition of the plants. Before planting out, transplants of Mibuna have been found to be larger than Mizuna. the differences in the con-tents of Chemical components in these culthars were statistically insignificant at tliis time (with the exception of dry matter). The transplants from a later production term were characterized by greater fresh weight and height. longer leaves, and lower content of dry matter. soluble sugars and carotenoids. Based on collected data regression eąuations were developed to predict the course of growth and development of Brassica rapa var. japonica during field vegetation with a precision of morę than 94%. There were no statistical differences in yields ainong cultivars. while significant effect of growing datę was ob-served. The total and commercial yield was higherby 3.34 and 3.77 l-ha'¹. respectKely. in the 2^,ld production tenn than in an earlier one. During harvests the content of chlorophylls. carotenoids and L-ascoibic acid was higher in the rosettes of Mibuna cultivar. while Mizuna had morę dn matter and soluble sugars. Production of the plants from later plantings resulted in significantly increased soluble sugars content in the rosettes. but the reduction in dry matter and L-ascorbic acid was obsen ed.

Key words: Mibuna. Mizuna tenn of production. transplants. yield ąuantity and ąuality

Corresponding author - Adres do korespondencji: Andrzej Kalisz. Department of Vegetable Crops and Horticulture Economics. Al. 29 Listopada 54. 31-425 Kraków Poland. e-mail: [e-mail]