Effect of plant age and temperature on bolting in Chinese cabbage

Abstract

The effect of different growing methods on bolting of early Chinese cabbage was studied. Both plant age and the duration of low-temperature treatment had a significant effect on bolting. When the appearance of the flower buds was delayed as much as 80 days from sowing, the heads were of good quality. Increased plant age (1–3 weeks) at the start of cold treatment delayed bolting. Premature bolting was reduced by prolonging the raising period at a temperature above 18°C. Increasing the duration of cooling at 12°C from 1 to 3 weeks hastened bolting in the heat-sensitive ‘Nagaoka 50’. A large difference in bolting responses was found between heat-sensitive (‘Nagaoka 50’) and heat-tolerant (‘Saladeer’ and ‘Nagaoka Tropicana’) cultivars.