Physical and chemical changes in the endive plants (Cichorium endivia L. var. crispum) during developmental stages

The experiment was carried out on endive plant (Cichorium endiviaL var.crispum) cv. Salad King during the two successive seasons of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 to study the physical and chemical changes in plant during their developmental stages. The results of plant physical characteristics such as longest endive plant and highest leaves number per plant were obtained at the age of 90 days. On the same curvilinear trend exhibit the highest yield per plant was obtained from endive plants at the age of 90 days. Plant chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid, total sugars, dry weight and insulin increased continuously till the age of 90 days followed with slight decrement happened till the age of 120 days. The content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium increased quickly up to the age of 90 days then it decreased slowly in the last following ages till the age of 120 days illustrating a parabola curve trend.