Improving ovoli production in globe artichoke by removal of the epigeal part

on the use of "ovoli" (underground dried shoots with apical and laterai buds), which are harvested during the summer in quiescent plants grown for head production. The efficiency of this multiplication method often limits the diffusion of new cultivars, above ali of those for spring production which produce very few "ovoli". This research evaluated the effects of removing the apex and epigeal part of the plants on the production and characteristics of "ovoli" in 'Violet de Provence', a traditional early Mediterranean cultivar, and in new clones ('C3', 'C4', 'TPl' and Etrusco) from"in vitro" micropropagation. Compared to the conventional method, removal of the apex and epigeal part of the plant, increased the number of "ovoli" per plant by 240% ('\ioIet de Provence') and 314 % (clone 'C3') and allowed the production of "ovoli" (from 2.8 to 4.7 per plant) in the other clones which do not develop any "ovoli". The removal of the epigeal part also influenced some "ovoli" characteristics (weight, length and width)