Abstract

Cabbage seed production is restricted to temperate areas where vernalization requirements are fulfilled. Some cabbage genotypes have been reported to produce flowers in subtropical regions using chemical treatments, but these treatments are not equally effective in all agro-ecological zones. Therefore, a study was carried out to produce cabbage seeds by optimization of sowing time and selection of suitable cabbage genotype(s) as well as to find morphological traits linked with flowering/seed setting potential of cabbage genotypes, under sub-tropical conditions of Faisalabad, Pakistan. Ten cabbage genotypes were sown at five different times, i.e., 15th August, 1st September, 15th September, 1st October and 15th October, according to split plot design with three replications. Earliest sowing (15th August) showed a greater number of non-wrapper leaves per plant, head weight, big head size, head compactness and a greater number of bolting, number of flowers, number of siliques and seed yield per plant as compared to other sowing treatments Among the tested genotypes, Flat Head, Bright Cabbage, Green Gold, White Cabbage, Delight Ball and ML09 were able to produce flowers but Delight Ball genotype did not produce seeds. Correlation analysis implied polar diameter and plant height as positive indicators of early bolting in head cabbage. Results indicated White Cabbage, Flat Head and ML09 as the suitable cabbage genotypes for seed production under semi-arid subtropical conditions of Faisalabad.