Research report from OSU's North Willamette Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Delbert Hemphill and N. Mansour
OSU Dept of Horticulture
The objective of these trials was to evaluate several lines of brussels sprouts for suitability for fresh market or processing production in the Willamette Valley. Several quality factors were observed in a replicated planting: length of season, height, tendency to lodge, ability to withstand warm weather, resistance to mildew and internal browning, sprout size distribution, smoothness, solidity, color, spacing, picking and deleafing ease, and uniformity.
Methods
Twelve cultivars were seeded in a greenhouse on three dates, March 11, March 26, and April 23, 1980, and transplanted approximately one month later. Plots consisted of 10 plants spaced three feet between rows and two feet in the row. There were three replications of each cultivar. The plot area received a broadcast application of 800 pounds/acre of 10-20-10 and several sidedress applications of ammonium nitrate or calcium nitrate. Pesticides used were trifluralin at 0.75 pounds/acre for weed control, fonofos at 2.0 pounds/acre for symphylan control, and biweekly diazinon sprays at 1.0 pounds/acre for aphid and looper control.
The first planting was harvested on August 12 (Jade Cross E and Kronos) and September 23 (other ten cultivars), the second planting on November 14, and the third planting had not been harvested by December.
Results
Observations on each cultivar are listed below.
First planting Jade Cross E: no mildew or internal browning; solid sprouts with fair color; average spacing, picking and deleafing ease; favorable sprout shape and angle with stem; uniform; good yield potential. Kronos: no mildew, very little browning; smooth, solid sprouts with fair color; average spacing, picking, and deleafing ease; good shape and stem angle; uniform; fair yield potential. Goldmine: moderate mildew and browning; smooth, solid sprouts with fair color; average picking and deleafing ease, tight sprout spacing; sprout shape and stem angle average; fairly uniform; high yield potential. Argosy: no mildew or browning; smooth, solid sprouts with good color; average deleafing and picking ease; very tight sprout spacing but good (nearly right angle) stem angle; fair sprout shape; uniform; high yield potential. Dorema: no mildew, very little browning; very smooth, solid sprouts with fair color; average ease of deleafing and picking; tight spacing, good shape, average angle; uniform; fair yield potential. Agi: very little mildew, no browning; very smooth, solid sprouts with fair color; easy to deleaf and pick; good sprout spacing and shape but average angle; only fair uniformity; fair yield potential. Craton: fairly severe mildew and browning; very smooth, solid sprouts with fair color; easy to deleaf, average picking ease; fair spacing, shape, and angle; only fair uniformity; good yield potential. Allrounder: moderate mildew and browning; average smoothness and solidity, fair color; easy to deleaf but difficult to pick; good spacing, but only fair shape and angle; only fair uniformity; below average yield and sprouts did not hold in hot weather. Predora: very little mildew, some browning; extremely smooth and solid, fair color; average picking ease but difficult to deleaf; average spacing, shape, angle; only fair uniformity; good yield potential. Silverstar: severe mildew, browning; fairly smooth, very solid sprouts with fair color; easy to deleaf, average picking ease; average spacing and angle, good shape; fair uniformity; fair yield potential. Lindo: some mildew and moderate browning; fair smoothness, solidity, and color; easy to deleaf and pick; good spacing, shape, and angle; fair uniformity; fair yield potential; sprouts did not hold in warm weather. Early Morn: severe mildew and browning; smooth, solid sprouts with fair color; easy to deleaf but difficult to pick; average spacing, shape, and angle; only fair uniformity; low yielder; short, squat plants. Second planting Jade Cross E: rather severe mildew and browning; only fair smoothness, solidity and pale color; average picking and deleafing ease; average spacing, good shape and angle; uniform; good yield potential. Jade Cross F: average mildew and browning; good smoothness and solidity, poor color; average ease of deleafing and picking; average spacing, shape, good angle; uniform; good yield potential. Jade Cross G: severe mildew, average browning; average smoothness and solidity; poor color; average picking and deleafing ease; poor, tight spacing; fair to good shape, angle; fairly uniform; fair yield potential. Pegasus: light mildew and browning; less than average smoothness, solidity; fair color; moderate deleafing and picking ease; average spacing, shape, angle; poor uniformity; good yield potential. Cor: Severe mildew and browning; fairly smooth, solid, poor color; average ease of picking and deleafing; tight spacing, good shape, poor angle; fair uniformity; good yield potential. Rovoka: moderately severe mildew and browning; average smoothness and solidity, poor color; easy to deleaf and pick; good spacing and shape but poor angle; fair uniformity; good yield potential. Achilles: average mildew and browning; good smoothness and solidity; good dark color, average deleafing and picking ease; good spacing, shape, angle; fair uniformity; good yield potential. Roodnerf Rido: average mildew and browning; poor smoothness, solidity, and color; hard to pick and deleaf; good spacing but only fair shape and angle; non-uniform; fair yield potential. Palisade: average mildew and browning; average smoothness, solidity, and color; average deleafing and picking ease; average shape, spacing, angle; fair uniformity, good yield potential. Lunet: severe mildew and browning; average smoothness and solidity, poor yellow color; average ease of picking and deleafing; good shape but only fair angle and spacing; fair uniformity; fair yield potential. Horatius: better than average resistance to mildew and browning; smooth, solid sprouts of fair color; average picking ease but difficult to deleaf; average spacing, shape, angle; very uniform; good yield potential. Roodnerf Champion Reselected: moderately severe mildew and browning; very rough sprouts with fair color; average picking, deleafing ease; fair spacing and shape, good angle; non-uniform; fair yield potential; purple petioles and sprouts.