iUME LIBRARY


r ,4,,,.. 11 1972
E 70- I Everglades Station Mimeo Report EES70-11 I May 1970
 LS. Univ. of Florida
 SOME CHANGES IN THE CELERY PLANT WITH MATURITY

 H. W. Burdine and V. L. Guzman1/

 Data presented here were accumulated from two fertilizer experiments where
 plots were harvested at three stages of growth, one week before, at optimum, and
 one week after estimated optimum market maturity. It is not always possible to
 immediately interpret data of this type into far reaching practical significance,
 however, it is felt this data should be published as it sheds light on the
 responses of this plant to south Florida growing conditions, and some of the
 processes we are dealing with in the production of this crop.

 EXPERIMENTAL
 The same three celery cultivars were grown in both experiments. Utah 52-70,
 Florida 2-13 and Florida 683 were gorwn on three levels of phosphorus and three
 levels of potassium. Nitrogen was applied uniformly to both areas as 450 pounds
 per acre of ammonium nitrate, 6 weeks after transplanting. Experiment No. 1-
 was transplanted January 10-12 and harvested April 4-6, 11-13 and 18-19. Experi-
 ment No. 2- was transplanted January 4-6. Plots were harvested March 27-28,
 April 3-4 and April 10-11. Response to fertilizer treatments were presented last
 year. Only data relating to maturity changes are given here. There were some
 bolting plants in both experiments. However, sampling for chemical analysis was
 done on plants that exhibited no signs of bolting.

 Samples for analysis of outer petiole tissue were taken from the outermost
 petiole remaining after stripping to a compact marketable plant. Heart petiole
 samples were taken from two heart petioles per plant with a minimum of 3 inches
 and a maximum of 6 inches between base and the node.' Stem samples were from the
 inner portion of the stem with the growing point and petiole attachment areas
 trimmed off. Samples for analysis from all parts of the plant were taken from
 the same 15 plants on each plot.



 1/ Professor (Soils Chemist) and Professor (Horticulturist), Everglades
 Experiment Station, Belle Glade, Florida.

 2/ Grown on Wedgworth Farm.

 3/ Grown on the Experiment Station Farm.

 4/ Burdine, H. W. and V. L. Guzman. Some Celery Responses to Fertilizer Levels
 and Soil Test Results. Everglades Station Mimeo Report EES69-17.