Effects of vernalization and gibberellic acid on floral induction and harvest time of seed-grown globe artichoke

The purpose this of study was to evaluate the possibility of reducing the negative impact of late sowing seed-grown globe artichoke on harvest time and yield by vernalization and gibberellic acido In two experiments utilizing four hybrids F}, three vernalization procedures [seed and seedling not vernalized, seed vernalization (12 days in moist peat at 4:1:1°C); seed vernalization (as before) + seedling vernalization 25 days in a growth chamber under 16 h light/8 h darkness and 20°C/7°C day/night temperature) and two concentrations of gibberellic acid (Oor 60 ppm) applied to the plants in the field, were investigated. Seed + seedling vernalization improved the effectiveness of GA3 on bolting, start of harvest and heads produced during the winter and at the end of cycle. This, probably, suggests that vernalization and GA3 effects are additive.