Tow field experiments were carried out at Upper Egypt region during the two
successive seasons of 200112002 and 2002/2003 on the Pysa/is longfo/ia L.
(Harunkush) as a new vegetable crop in this regeon to determine the optimum plant
population density and to study the effect of nitrogen levels on quantity and quality of
fruits and seeds yield. Results showed that maximum values of plant height, number of
branches/plant, number of fruits/ plant, seed index, both total and netting fruit yield/
fed. as well as seed yieldl fed. were found with 75 cm.spacinq between hills. On the
other hand. plants sown on the same previously hill spacing (thin stands) were
significantly more susceptible to delay in maturation and decreased T.S.S.
percentage. Ap plication of nitrogen fertilizer to harunkush plants up to 150 Kg N/fed.
increased significantly plant height, number of branches/ plantand all the studied fruit
and seed characteristics except T.S.S.percentage which was not significantly
affected. Moreover, the two high levels of nitrogen,i.e.100 and 150 Kg N/ fed.
produced significantly early flowers and fruit setting than the low level (50 Kg N/ fed.)
with no significant differences were observed between both high levels. The highest values of the most studied traits were obtained from the
combination of widest spacing (75 cm.) with the highest nitrogen application (150 Kg
N/ fed.).