Cauliflower cultivar Teresópolis Gigante production and quality depending on nitrogen levels

The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the influence of nitrogen levels in covering on yield and quality of cauliflower, cultivar Teresópolis Gigante. The experiment was carried out at Universidade Estadual Paulista, in São Paulo State, Brazil. The evaluated characteristics were curd weight, curd diameter, number of leaves per plant, curd nitrogen content, texture, pH, acidity, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid and reducing sugars. A linear increase in curd weight and nitrogen content in curd was observed with increasing nitrogen levels, but without affecting curd diameter and number of leaves per plant. For the quality characteristics we observed linear increase in pH with increasing nitrogen levels but to the other characteristics there were no statistical differences among the nitrogen levels evaluated.

Brassica oleracea var. botrytis; nitrogen fertilization; postharvest quality