La fecha de siembra determina la duración de las etapas fenológicas y el rendimiento de la uchuva (Physalis peruviana L.) en el subtrópico de Argentina

To evaluate the effects of different planting dates on the duration of phenological phases and the agronomic yield of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana), the plants were planted in the province of Tucumán (Argentina). In this province, cape gooseberries have similar day-length requirements to those in other growing regions, suggesting that their production is feasible. Cape gooseberry seeds were sown on three dates, between January 29 and April 3 in 2015, 2016, and 2016, resulting in planting seasons between May and June. The earliest planting date that allows completion of the phenological phases most closely matches those of other cape gooseberry-producing regions, advancing the phenological stages in calendar terms. Planting date significantly affected yields, as the crop was exposed to variations in environmental conditions, including temperature, photoperiod, and solar radiation throughout the production cycle. The first sowing/planting date yielded the highest total yield in the three years. This response was associated with plants with a greater number of leaves, higher maximum production rate (MPR) and MPR duration, and a longer production cycle that allowed for greater radiation accumulation and favorable temperatures for flower and fruit production. This was positively correlated with the photothermal coefficient for this stage.