Early Production and Anatomical Structure of Globe Artichoke as Affected by Vernalization, Defoliation and Some Growth Enhancements.

Over the course of the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons, an experiment was conducted at the Vegetable Research Farm in Kaha, El Kaliobia to study the effect of defoliation and foliar application of some growth stimulants (25 mg/l gibberellic acid and 2 g/l seaweed extract) and vernalization at 5oc on earliness and anatomical structure of globe artichoke plants (Cv. Concerto). Obtained results showed that gibberellic acid (GA3) treatment alone or combined with vernalization or seaweed extract led to increase leaves and offshoots number per plant, plant height and earliness, early and total heads yield, average weight of early and total either heads and edible part also total carbohydrates, gibberellin and cytokinin moreover lowest phenols and fiber contents. Also, GA3 plus vernalization, GA3 plus seaweed extract and GA3 alone respectively were the most pronounced treatments of these anatomical features i.e., root diameter, epidermis, cortex, (Ø of V.C), xylem arch length (µ), and big xylem and leaves i.e. Upper and lower epidermis, blade, palisade and spongy tissue, leaf midrib thickness, vascular bundle and xylem.The study recommends that 25 mg/l GA3 foliar application on vernalized plants (5℃) for two weeks enhance high heads yield production of globe artichoke concerto cv.