This investigation was carried out during 2003/2004, 2004/2005, 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 seasons at Kaha vegetables Research Farm, Hort. Res. Inst.
In 2003/2004 season, 38 mother plants were planted. These plants were selected in the previous season (2002/2003) from a population of 1200 plants from a private Farm at Kome El-Berka village, Kafr El-Dawaar district, Behira Governorate according to their earliness, yield and its quality traits. Each of the 38 mother plants was considered a clone and planted as an observation trial. At the end of this season fifteen clones were selected according to the obtained data and planted in season 2004/2005. At the end of 2004/2005 season, ten clones were selected according to the obtained data of the studied traits and planted in 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 seasons.
The obtained results could be summarized as follow:
I. Vegetative traits:
I.1. Clone K.D16 produced the highest number of offshoots per plant followed by clones K.D20 and K.D9 while the lowest number of offshoot per plant was produced by clone K.D22.
I.2. The highest plant height was produced by clone K.D7 and clone K.D16, while the lowest plant height was produced by the control.
I.3. The highest leaves number per plant was produced by clone K.D16 followed by clones K.D9 and K.D7, while the lowest leaves number per plant was produced by clone K.D21 in 2005/2006 and clone K.D23 in 2006/2007 season.
II.1. Early yield:
The highest early yield was produced by clone K.D6 followed by clones K.D.16 and K.D21 while the lowest early yield was produced by the control followed by clones K.D20 and K.D22.
II.2. Total yield:
The highest total yield was produced by clone K.D6 followed by clones K.D16, K.D20 and K.D19, while the lowest total yield was obtained from the control followed by clone K.D23.
III. Head characters:
III.1. Head physical characters:
The highest head weight was produced by clone K.D16 followed by clones K.D9, K.D6 and K.D21, while the lowest head weight was obtained from the control
The highest head length was produced by clone K.D16 followed by clone K.D7, while the control produced the lowest head length.
The highest head diameter was produced by clone K.D6 followed by clones K.D20 and K.D16, while the lowest head diameter was obtained from the control.
Clone K.D16 produced the highest receptacle weight followed by clones K.D21 and K.D7, while the lowest receptacle weight was obtained from the control.
III.2. Head chemical characters:
The highest nitrogen percentage was obtained from clone K.D8 followed by clones K.D6, K.D16, K.D7 and K.D21 while the lowest nitrogen percentage was obtained from clone K.D22.
The highest phosphorus percentage was obtained from clone K.D7 followed by clones K.D16 and K.D21, while the lowest phosphorus percentage was produced from the control but the differences were not significant.
The highest potassium percentage was produced by clone K.D7 followed by clone K.D16 while the lowest potassium percentage was obtained from clone K.D22.
Clone K.D8 produced the highest protein percentage followed by clones K.D6, K.D16, K.D7 and K.D21, while K.D22 produced the lowest protein percentage.
The lowest fibers percentage was found in clone K.D6 followed by clones K.D7, K.D16 and K.D21, while the highest fibers percentage was found in clone K.D8.