W.B. Evans. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center

Muck Crops Branch, Willard, OH 44890

This radish trial consisted of four plots each of 28 entries grown at the O.A.R.D.C. Muck Crops Branch in Willard, OH and one large plot each of 16 entries grown on commercial field less than 0.5 miles from the branch. At the branch, each plot contained 5 rows, 20 ft. long and 10 in. apart. The on-farm site had 3 rows 330 ft. long 10 inches apart. Branch plots were spring plowed and fertilized with 700 lb. 16-8-26. Plots at both sites were sown (July 7 and 8 at the branch and grower’s site, respectively) at 10 seeds/ft. At the branch, manganese (4 lb./acre) was sprayed on the foliage July 28. One flooding rain occurred approximately 10 days after planting. This ruined two replicates at the branch, leaving two. Data from the two good replicates was combined with that of corresponding cultivars at the grower’s site to give three replicates of 10 cultivars for statistical analysis. The remaining 23 cultivars not grown at both locations are described here as observational plots. Data from these is from one plot at the on-farm location or the mean of two plots from the branch location. Although the trial sites historically have high rhizoctonia and clubroot pressure, disease incidence was low in all but the flooded out plots.

Each plot was harvested when most plants had reached marketable size. Plants from two meters of the center row were weighed, topped, graded, and reweighed. Marketable roots included all salable roots greater than 0.75 in. in diameter. Throwdown included all smaller radishes. Percent throwdown is a percent of total root yield, by weight. Excessive throwdown can slow hand harvest. Cull roots greater than 0.75 inches in diameter were also separated from the marketable roots. Their yields were recorded and used to calculate total root yield, but are not reported here. The total length (after trimming tails and petioles) and width of ten medium sized bulbs was used to calculate bulb length to width ratio or relative roundness of the bulbs. A length:width ratio of 1.0 indicates round bulbs. Larger ratios indicate elongated bulbs; smaller numbers flattened bulbs. Top length was determined by measuring the longest leaf of five plants.

The best radishes for summer production included: Rave, Brio, Fireball, Cabernet, 39-61 RZ, Hunter, and 9045 (Tables 1 and 2). Cultivars with longer tops, unsuitable for summer bunch production, that should be tested for spring and fall production included: Belle Glade, HMX 9768, SRA 6507 and VIL 97-53. Cabernet and Belle Glade have been consistently among the better performers over the last few years. All other cultivars yielded poorly or exhibited flaws such as long tops, high throwdown, poor uniformity, or elongated roots.