Morpho-agronomic variability of artichoke seed-propagated hybrids

Abstract

Using artichoke seed-propagated hybrids increases yield and reduces implementation costs what ensures the expansion of this crop. Morpho-agronomic characterization allows a thorough knowledge of each material enabling the producer to select the hybrid that meets the environmental conditions and the consumer market. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the morpho-agronomic variability of four artichoke hybrids propagated by seed, based on qualitative (multicategorical) and quantitative traits. The study used the hybrid 'Concert F1', 'Madrigal F1', 'Opal F1' and 'Symphony F1', distributed in a completely randomized design with two replications and eight plants per repetition. The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Faculty, Rosario National University, located at 33°1'; 60°59'. Analysis of variance was performed for quantitative characters and multivariate for both characters. Ward's clustering method, from Euclidean distance average was used for both characters. Both multicategorical and quantitative traits allowed the formation of three groups. Among the multicategorical traits studied 72.67% of the difference between hybrids must be the depth of emargination, violet coloration, the length of the thorns of the external bract of the primary head, the longitudinal shape of the primary head, and the density of the internal bract of the primary head. Among the quantitative traits, 97.81% of the difference between hybrids was due to the days to harvest, plant height, and the height of the main rod. There is variability among hybrids, which allows the producer to grow the most suitable material to environmental conditions and meets the needs of consumer market.