Effect of plant spacing and picking frequency of fruits on seed yield of eggplant [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Two field experiments were conducted during 2000 and 2001 seasons in Kaha Farm of Horticultural Research Institute, Kaluebia Governorate to study the effect of plant spacing Le. 30, 45 and 60 cm between plants and frequency of picking fruits Le. without picking, picking one, two and three times at 10 day intervals on the vegetative growth characters, leaf area and chlorophyll content in leaves, fresh fruits yield and its components, seed yield and its components as well as germination test of seeds. The obtained results showed that as follow: (1)Vegetative growth characters were significantly increased with increasing plant spacing except the plant height was increased with decreasing the plant spacing, while the picking frequency or the interactions between plant spacing and picking frequency did not reflect any effect on vegetative growth. (2) Leaf area and chlorophyll content were increased with increasing plant spacing while the picking frequency or the interaction between plant spacing and picking frequency did not effect on these characters. (3) Fresh fruit yield and its components Le. number of fruit/ plant, average fruit weight, fruit yield/plant and fruit yield/Fed were significantly affected by plant spacing or picking frequency as well as the interaction between them. The best treatments was the plant spacing (30 cm) with picking frequency three times. (4) Seed yield and its components Le. number of fruits/plant. fruit weight, seed yield/plant as well as seed yield/Fed and seed index were significantly affected by plant spacing or picking frequency as well as the interaction between them.

Summary in Arabic.

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