PERFORMANCE OF CAULIFLOWERS (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) VARIETIES AS AFFECTED BY MOISTURE STRESS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF GROWTH

This experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of the Federal College of Forestry, Jos, to determine the response of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) varieties to moisture stress at different growth stages. The treatments consist of moisture stress at different growth and development stages (control, juvenile stage, curd formation stage, and head development stage) and two cauliflower varieties (Atria F1 and Summer F1), which were laid out in a split-plot design with 3 replications. The results from this research work reveal that the number of curds per net plot was 11.17, curd length (18.68 cm), curd diameter (39.83 cm), weight of curd per net plot (12.62 kg), and total yield (31.54 t/ha). Varietal difference also significantly influenced growth and yield of cauliflower. Atria F1 had the highest number of curds per net plot (14.50), curd diameter (46.88 cm), curd weight per net plot (16. 08 kg), and total yield (40.20 t/ha). Interaction between moisture stress and variety did not significantly influence the growth and yield of cauliflower. It can be concluded that cauliflower performed better when subjected to water stress at the curd formation stage, especially the Atria F1 variety. It can therefore be suggested that cauliflower farmers in Jos and related ecologies should subject cauliflower to water stress at the curd formation stage, especially the Atria F1 variety.