Sclerotium rolfsii Saccardo, Rhizoctonia solani, Diplodia sp. and Fuscarium solani were isolated from naturally, infected artichoke plants (Propagation parts). All isolated fungi were tested for their pathogenic effect. S. rolfsii gave the highest degree of infection (80%) followed by R. solani (50%),
Diplodia sp. (A0%) and F. solani (10%).
Two field experiments were conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, Moshtohor, Zagazig University during 1990/1991 and 1991/1992 seasons to elucidate the effect of soaking the artichoke propagation parts (old crown or off-shoots) in fungicides (Rovral-50, Benlate-50 or Trpsin-M70) or hot water (at 45, 50 or 55°C) for 5, 10 and 15 minutes. The combination of 3 temperature treatments X 3 soaking periods in addition to 3 fungicide treatments beside the control one resulted in 13 treatments. Survival of healthy plants, physical characteristics of inflorescence and yield of flower heads were studied. Propagation parts and interaction between parts and treatments had no statistically significant effect for most or the vegetative growth characteristics. Hot water at 50°C for 15 min. was the most effective treatment that significantly increased most of the vegetative growth characters expressed as number of leaves, fresh weight and dry matter %. It also signi ficantly increased all yield and physical characteristics of the flower head. The interaction effect between the o f f-shoot and hot water at 50°C for 15 min. showed the highest increments in flower heads yield and yield components.
Thus, for producing healthy artichoke plants with good standing and high yield of good quality, the use of off-shoots for propagation and soaking them in hot water (50°C for 15 min.) or in Benlate-50 fungi¬cide may be recommended