Testing a vernalization model on field-grown crops of four cauliflower cultivars

SummaryData from a series of transplantings of four cultivars of summer-autumn cauliflower, grown on two sites, were used to test the accuracy of prediction of the timing of curd initiation, using a model of vernalization in cauliflower developed for cv. White Fox. This model was started at different numbers of leaves between 16 and 22, to simulate the end of juvenility at different stages of growth. Prediction of curd initiation was most accurate with juvenility ending at different mean numbers of leaves in each cultivar: White Fox 17.0, Dok Elgon 17.5, Revito 20.5 and White Rock 21.0. The intensity of the vernalization stimulus appeared to be similar for all cultivars.