M.M. Shrestha, S. M. Shakya, M.D. Sharma and P.P. Subedi
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

DOI

ABSTRACT

An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal during October 2001 to April 2002, to assess the effect of transplant age and de-topping on seed yield and quality of radish variety Fourty Days. The effect of de-topping treatment and age of transplant on seed yield was not significant. However, the treatment no-de topping gave higher average seed yield (5.15q/ha) than de-topping (4.77q/ha). Highest average seed yield (6.52q/ha) was given by a treatment combination of no-de topping and 50 days old transplant followed by a treatment combination of de-topping and 40 days old transplant (5.73q/ha) and lowest (3.83q/ha) was observed in a treatment combination of de-topping and direct seed sowing. A decreased seed germination percentage was observed in no-detopping treatments as the transplanting age increased whereas seed germination was increased in de-topping treatments as transplanting age increased. Highest 1000 seed weight (14.501g) was given by a treatment combination of no-de topping and 60 days old transplant. Similarly, positive effect of de-topping on 1000 seed weight (14.079g) was obtained through the treatment combination of de-topping and 50 days old transplant. The results indicated that roots transplanted 40 to 60 days after sowing gave higher yield and higher quality of seed in no-detopping treatments. Thus, adopting no-detopping along with root transplanting at the age of 40 to 60 days after sowing could be suitable practice for producing higher yield and better quality of seed of radish cv. Fourty Days in Chitwan condition. It is also practicable to adopt de-topping and whole root transplanting at the same age of transplants provided environmental conditions are favourable during reproductive phase of the crop. Additional research could be suggested in these aspects.