See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/326498419

The adaptation of pak choi ( Brassica rapa var. chinensis ) cultivars in Samsun
Province, Turkey

Article in Acta Horticulturae · May 2018

DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1202.8

CITATIONS READS

2 3,955

3 authors, including:

Ahmet Balkaya Şenay Murat Dogru

Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Black Sea Agricultural Research Institute
172 PUBLICATIONS 1,273 CITATIONS 17 PUBLICATIONS 40 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Biber anaç ıslahı View project

Hybrid cabbage breeding project View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Ahmet Balkaya on 13 January 2019.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

The adaptation of pak choi (Brassica rapa var.
chinensis) cultivars in Samsun Province, Turkey
A. Balkaya1, O. Aydin1 and S. Murat Dogru2
1Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, 55139, Samsun, Turkey; 2Black
Sea Agricultural Research Institute, Samsun, Turkey.

Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the possibilities of pak choi cultivation
and to determine the suitable cultivars of pak choi under the ecological conditions of
Samsun between the autumn and spring growing season in 2010-2011. In this study,
three sowing dates with 15 day intervals (1st August, 15th August, 1st September) at the
end of autumn period in 2010, two sowing dates (1st April, 15th April) in spring season
in 2011 and three sowing dates (15th July, 1st August, 15th August) at the end of 2011
autumn season and four pak choi cultivars (Dwarf canton white, Pak choi green, Green
fortune, Tai sai) were investigated. At the end of this research, it was found that pak
choi vegetables could be successfully grown in autumn under the ecological
conditions of Samsun. In the spring season, all of the cultivars were flowered due to
the bolting. In this study, according to the year and growing season, for Dwarf canton
white cultivar averagely leaf number found 14.55-18.33 units and leaf weight changed
375.06-381.65 g. For Pak choi green cultivar, leaf number found 16.0-20.33 units and
leaf weight changed 252.80-327.95 g. Dwarf canton white and Pak choi green were
determined as the promising cultivars. According to the years, the highest yield was
determined 0.411-0.433 t ha-1 for Dwarf canton white, and 0.313-0.345 t ha-1 for Pak
choi green cultivars. All results showed that the best suitable sowing time for the pak
choi cultivation was 15th July for the autumn growing season.

Keywords: pak choi, adaptation, cultivar, sowing time, yield, Turkey

INTRODUCTION
Chinese cabbage, Brassica rapa var. pekinensis, and pak choi, Brassica rapa var.
chinensis, are important vegetables grown in Asia where earliest reports of their use are
from the fifth century A.D. (Yamaguchi, 1983; Hill, 1990). These green vegetables were made
known around the world by the efforts of the travelers and immigrants (Nieuwhof, 1969).
Distinct types have evolved because of natural crossings in the field and human selections of
the desired traits. This member of the cabbage family has a number of different names,
including bok choy, Chinese celery cabbage and white mustard cabbage (Aydın, 2012).
Pak choi is very important Brassica vegetable in East, Northeast and Southeast Asia. It
accounts for 30-40% of the vegetable production area in China and also Taiwan (Zhu et al.,
2013; Acikgoz, 2016). The cultivation of this vegetable is not yet widespread in the world.
Pak choi is also grown in European countries substantially, especially in the Netherland and
Belgium (Vanparys, 1999). Brassicas are widespread as wild, weedy and cultivated forms
throughout Turkey (Davis, 1982; Balkaya and Karaagac, 2005). Chinese cabbage and pak
choi are new Brassica vegetables in Turkey during the last 15-20 years (Aydın and Balkaya,
2012). The production, especially of Chinese cabbage has increased in the last 5-10 years.
Unfortunately, pak choi is not known very well in Turkey. In the last years, adaptation
studies were carried out in the different regions of Turkey (Kılıç, 1989; Aydın, 2012; Adiloğ lu
et al., 2015).
Pak choi has thick white leaf stems and large, spoon-shaped, dark green leaves. Color
and size of the stem and leaves vary with different types (Wanitprapha et al., 1992). Pak choi
are consumed in different forms. The plant is being used mostly for its leaves and leaf stalks
(Peirce, 1987). These plants are an excellent salad material when they are young and little

Acta Hortic. 1202. ISHS 2018. DOI 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1202.8 55

Proc. VII Int. Symp. on Brassicas
Eds.: M.E. Cartea, P. Soengas and M. Francisco
(15 cm and shorter leaves) and it is being used as food ingredients when the leaves are
grown ripe (when they reached 30 cm plant height) (Eşiyok et al., 2008). It is also used for
soups and meals, as well as decorating purposes (Siemonsma and Piluek, 1994).
Brassica vegetables are characterized by high water content, low caloric value,
containing high quality of protein, carbonhydrates, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and also
secondary plant metabolites (Acikgoz, 2016). Pak choi leaves have sweet taste and crisp and
juicy texture which contains 2.18 g of carbonhydrates, 1.5 g proteins and 1.0 g dietary fiber
in 100 g of fresh matter (Eşiyok et al., 2011).
Pak choi can be an alternative crop for vegetable growers due to its similarity to other
Brassicaceae members. This annual vegetable has optimal growth and development at
temperatures between 15 and 20°C (Echer et al., 2015). Otherwise, it can be harvested
between 40-60 days according to varietes. Pak choi with its relatively short cultivation
period, easy growing, and dietary value can be a good alternative crop for autumn period in
open field and winter growing period in cold greenhouses in Turkey (Aydın and Balkaya,
2012; Acikgoz, 2016). Crop yields vary according to cultivar, planting density, and
environmental conditions. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the possibilities of
pak choi growing and to determine the most suitable cultivars of pak choi under the
ecological conditions of Samsun (the north of Turkey) in the autumn and spring growing
seasons.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This research was carried out in the field and laboratory of Ondokuz Mayıs University,
Department of Horticulture between 2011 and 2012. The experimental site was located at
41°6’N, 35°9’E. This site is situated in the north of Turkey and has a humid climate with
annual relative humidity of 72.0% and average annual rainfall of 780.2 mm. The soil of the
experimental area was sandy loam with a pH of 6.9.
In this study, four pak choi cultivars (Dwarf canton white, Pak choi green, Green
fortune, Tai sai) were investigated. Seeds were sown intervals 15 days and three sowing
dates (1st August, 15th August, 1st September) at the end of autumn period in 2010, two
sowing dates (1st April, 15th April) in spring season in 2011 year and three sowing dates
(15th July, 1st August, 15th August) at the end of 2011 autumn season. The seeds of pak choi
cultivars were sown into plug trays (6 cm width and 6 cm depth). Peat, organic manure and
sand, mixed at a ratio of 2:1:0.5 were used as the growing medium. Seedlings at the three to
four true leaf stage were transplanted at a spacing of 30×30 cm in the province of Bafra
county, Samsun province. Standard fertilization and weed control practices were applied in
this experiment. No pesticides were used during the growing period.
This research was designed in a two factorial split-plot design in three replications.
The first factor involved sowing times and the second factor was cultivars. Fifteen plants
were grown in each plot. Harvest was performed only once in particular growing periods,
specyifing the mass of leaves (fully developed and marketable sizes). The following
parameters were measured and evaluated in this study.
a. Plant weight (g)
b. Leaf weight (g)
c. Leaf number (count)
d. Leaf length (cm)
e. Leaf width
f. Earliness (day)
g. Harvest ratio (%)
h. Yield (kg ha-1)
All data were analyzed statistically with the SAS-JUMP 5.01 computer program. The
differences between practices were compared by using least significant difference (LSD)
tests.

56
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Some morphological characteristics and yield performances of pak choi cultivars were
determined in Samsun province, Turkey. In the spring season, all of the cultivars were
flowered due to the bolting for two years. In the first year of the autumn experiment, pak
choi cultivars were harvested between 29-36 days according to the sowing times, and it was
changed to 30-33 days in the second year. The Dwarf canton white cultivar is defined as the
earliest cultivar (29 days, 30 days respectively) in both years.
In the first year of the autumn growing experiment, the plants could not reach enough
harvest maturation for fresh consumption during the sowing time on 1st of September, and
some of them have bolted. For this reason, the results belonging the first two sowing were
showed. In these periods, the highest average plant weight was obtained from 15th August
sowing time with 353.11 g in 2010 year. 1st August sowing time was followed with 345.18 g
of plant weight (Table 1).

Table 1. Main effects of cultivar, sowing times and years on plant weight for autumn
growing season (g).
Sowing times (2010)
Cultivars
1 August 15 August
Dwarf canton white 389.83 371.94 380.89
Pak choi green 364.82 401.99 384.90
Green fortune 332.91 284.25 308.58
Tai sai 290.16 354.25 322.20
345.18 353.11
Significance (p<0.05) Non significant (NS) NS
Sowing times (2011)
Cultivars
15 July 1 August 15 August
Dwarf canton white 478.32 364.31 290.30 377.64
Pak choi green 304.47 303.80 307.14 305.14
Green fortune 281.49 313.75 234.14 276.46
Tai sai 256.30 281.17 303.07 280.18
330.15 315.75 283.66
Significance (p<0.05) Non significant (NS) NS
In the first year, the plant weights of all cultivars varied according to sowing times. In
the second year, the highest plant weight was obtained from of ‘Dwarf canton white’ cultivar
with 478.32 g in 15th July sowing time (Table 1). For the plant weight, there were not find
significant differences statistically between sowing times and cultivars. Fetzer Samen (1989)
reported that the average plant weight in pak choi cultivars is about 400 g. Vanparys (1999)
reported that plant weights varied between 177.0 g and 586.0 g in pak choi cultivars. The
obtained results were found similar with mentioned literatures.
Since the part to be consumed are leaves, the factors affecting leaf weight and leaf
number are of great importance in the preference of pak choi cultivars (Aydın and Balkaya,
2012). When the leaf weight data of pak choi cultivars for 2010 and 2011 were examined,
there was no statistically significant difference in sowing time, cultivar, and sowing time ×
cultivar interactions. For the detailed pak choi cultivars, the average leaf weight values were
determined 295.06-381.65 g in the first year of this experiment, and 216.13-375.06 g in the
second year (Table 2). The highest leaf weight was obtained from ‘Dwarf canton white’
cultivar in both years. It was determined that there was a decrease in the average leaf weight
values in all of the cultivars due to the delay of sowing times.

57
Table 2. Main effects of cultivar, sowing times and years on leaf weight for autumn growing
season (g).
Sowing times (2010)
Cultivars
1 August 15 August
Dwarf canton white 407.50 355.80 381.65
Pak choi green 318.15 337.71 327.95
Green fortune 276.55 213.57 295.06
Tai sai 310.28 298.23 304.25
328.12 301.33
Significance (p<0.05) Non significant (NS) NS
Sowing times (2011)
Cultivars
15 July 1 August 15 August
Dwarf canton white 431.47 381.33 312.39 375.06
Pak choi green 269.57 280.03 208.80 252.80
Green fortune 252.56 207.41 188.44 216.13
Tai sai 241.41 269.07 261.98 257.49
298.75 284.90 242.90
Significance (p<0.05) Non significant (NS) NS
In this study, the leaf number was affected by cultivar, sowing date, years (Table 3).
Among the cultivars, the Pak choi green (20.33), among sowing times, 1 August sowing time
(18.42) and between years, the 2010 experimental year had the highest number of leaves
(Table 3). After 1st August sowing date, with the delay of sowing times, it was determined
that there was a decrease in the number of leaves. Kılıç (1989) reported that the average
number of leaves of pak choi cultivars varied between 14.0-19.33 in Tokat province, Turkey.
These findings were similar to the results of Kılıç (1989).

Table 3. Main effects of cultivar, sowing times and years on leaf number for autumn growing
season.
Sowing times (2010)
Cultivars
1 August 15 August
Dwarf canton white 19.00 17.67 18.33 a
Pak choi green 20.67 20.00 20.33 a
Green fortune 20.33 19.67 20.00 a
Tai sai 13.67 13.67 13.67 b
18.42 17.75
Significance (p<0.05) Non significant 0.01
Sowing times (2011)
Cultivars
15 July 1 August 15 August
Dwarf canton white 17.00 13.67 13.00 14.55 a
Pak choi green 17.33 16.33 14.33 16.00 a
Green fortune 16.00 15.67 14.33 15.33 a
Tai sai 11.33 11.00 11.67 11.33 b
15.42 14.17 13.33
Significance (p<0.05) Non significant 0.01
It was determined that the average leaf length changed between 21.93 and 46.57 cm in
the first year and 22.08-41.95 cm in the second year in pak choi cultivars (Table 4). The
highest leaf length values were measured in 15th August sowing date period for all cultivars
in both years. In addition, it was determined that ‘Tai Sai’ cultivar had the highest leaf length
values during all sowing date periods in the study.

58
 It has been determined that there is a significant differences in leaf width values
between pak choi cultivars. It was determined that ‘Tai Sai’ cultivar had the highest leaf
width while ‘Green fortune’ cultivar had the lowest (Table 5). There was no significant
differences found in leaf width between sowing times.

Table 4. Main effects of cultivar, sowing times and years on leaf length for autumn growing
season (cm).
Sowing times (2010)
Cultivars
1 August 15 August
Dwarf canton white 26.09 c 30.64 b 28.37 b
Pak choi green 23.30 cd 25.90 c 24.60 c
Green fortune 20.51 d 23.35 cd 21.93 c
Tai sai 39.69 a 53.47 a 46.57 a
27.50 b 33.34 a
Significance (p<0.05) 0.05 0.01
Sowing times (2011)
Cultivars
15 July 1 August 15 August
Dwarf canton white 25.21 26.75 26.17 26.04 b
Pak choi green 22.49 23.63 25.66 23.93 bc
Green fortune 22.99 22.77 20.47 22.08 c
Tai sai 36.82 42.78 46.26 41.95 a
26.88 28.98 29.64
Significance (p<0.05) Non significant 0.01

Table 5. Main effects of cultivar, sowing times and years on leaf width for autumn growing
season (cm).
Sowing times (2010)
Cultivars
1 August 15 August
Dwarf canton white 19.05 20.35 19.70 a
Pak choi green 12.45 14.69 13.57 b
Green fortune 14.93 11.93 13.43 b
Tai sai 21.89 22.38 22.13 a
17.08 17.34
Significance (p<0.05) Non significant 0.01
Sowing times (2011)
Cultivars
15 July 1 August 15 August
Dwarf canton white 18.35 19.44 17.94 18.58 b
Pak choi green 15.38 15.61 16.97 15.99 c
Green fortune 15.27 16.22 14.17 15.22 c
Tai sai 21.86 23.96 25.00 23.60 a
17.71 18.81 18.52
Significance (p<0.05) Non significant 0.01
The harvest rates are found at high level for pak choi cultivars. The autumn growing
period results were higher rates than spring sowing period. It was found between 63.0%
and 92.5% in the first year of the experiment. The highest harvest ratios were obtained from
‘Green fortune’ (92.5) and ‘Tai sai’ (90%) cultivars.
It was determined that there was no statistically significant difference between years,
cultivars and sowing times for yield values. With respect to sowing dates, the highest yield
were obtained from 15 June and 1 August sowing times, and the lower yield results from
especially 15 August sowing times may be due to decreased temperature and light (Table 6).

59
Extending the production season using late with sowing dates then 15 August was not
succesful, yields and quality of pak choi cultivars decreased. Among cultivars, the highest
values were obtained from the Dwarf canton white cultivar (4.43- 4.11 t da-1 respectively) in
both years. In this study, the lowest values were determined in Green fortune cultivar (0.27-
0.316 t ha-1 respectively). Kılıç (1989), reported that the yields of Pak Choi cultivars changed
between 0.24-0.44 t ha-1 in Tokat province, Turkey. Yield results of this study were similar to
those found in this literature. In the another literature, Cerne (1992) reported that pak choi
yield values changed from 0.444-0.655 t ha-1 in Slovenia.

Table 6. Main effects of cultivar, sowing times and years on marketable yield for autumn
growing season (t ha-1).
Sowing times (2010)
Cultivars
1 August 15 August
Dwarf canton white 4.53 4.33 4.43
Pak choi green 3.43 3.47 3.45
Green fortune 3.27 3.05 3.16
Tai sai 3.79 3.62 3.70
3.76 3.62 3.68
Significant Non significant (NS) NS
Sowing times (2011)
Cultivars
15 July 1 August 15 August
Dwarf canton white 5.31 3.80 3.22 4.11
Pak choi green 3.38 3.41 2.60 3.13
Green fortune 3.13 2.60 2.37 2.70
Tai sai 3.48 3.12 2.85 3.15
3.82 3.23 2.76 3.27
Significant Non significant (NS) NS

CONCLUSIONS
In this study, some morphological characteristics and yield performances of pak choi
cultivars were determined. The results showed that during the autumn season the ecological
conditions of Samsun favoured the pak choi cultivars. It was determined that Dwarf canton
white and Pak choi green are the suitable cultivars for the Black Sea region, Turkey. They
were found suitable cultivars for fresh consumption. Otherwise, the results of this study also
showed that the most suitable sowing time was 15 July for autumn growing. From this
period, sowing time should not be delayed in pak choi growing.

Literature cited
Acikgoz, F.E. (2016). Seasonal variations on quality parameters of pak choi (Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis L.).
Advances in Crop Science and Technology 4, 233.
Adiloğ lu, S., Eryılmaz, A.F., and Adiloğ lu, A. (2015). Artan dozlarda azot uygulamasinin mibuna (Brassica rapa var.
nipposinica) ve mizuna (Brassica rapa var. japonica) bitkilerinin bazı agronomik ö zellikleri, C vitamini,protein ve
mineral madde miktarı ü zerine etkisi. Journal of Agricultural Faculty of Uludag University 29, 1–11.
Aydın, O. (2012). Bazı kereviz lahanası [Pak choi (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis)] çeşitlerinin Samsun ekolojik
koşullarında adaptasyonu. Yü ksek lisans tezi (Samsun, Turkey: Ondokuz Mayıs Universitesi, Fen Bilimleri
Entitü sü ).
Aydın, O., and Balkaya, A. (2012). Yeni sebze tü rü Pak choi. Tarlasera. 4, 78–83.
Balkaya, A., and Karaagac, O. (2005). Vegetable genetic resources of Turkey. J. Veg. Sci. 11 (4), 81–102
https://doi.org/10.1300/J484v11n04_08.
Cerne, M. (1992). Introduction of Pak-choi in Slovenia. Acta Hortic. 318, 251–254
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1992.318.35.
Davis, P.H. (1982). Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Island, Vol. 7 (Edinburgh: Univ. Press), pp.947.

60
Echer, M.M., Dalastra, G.M., Hachmann, T.L., Klosowskı, E.S., and Guımaraes, V.F. (2015). Agronomic performances
of pak choi grown with different soil cover. Hortic. Bras. 33 (2), 261–266 https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-
053620150000200020.
Eşiyok, D., Bozokalfa, M.K., and Kaygısız, T. (2008). Tü rkiye sebzeciliğ inde ü mitvar gö rü len alternatif tü rler. Paper
presented at: VII. Sebze Tarımı Sempozyumu (Bildiri Kitabı).
Eşiyok, D., Bozokalfa, M.K., and Kaygısız, T. (2011). Yeni bir sebze tü rü Çin hardalı (Brassica campestris var.
chinensis) http://www.bahcenet.com/yeni-bir-sebze-turu-Çin-hardali (accesesed September 23, 2011).
Fetzer Samen. (1989). Fetzer Samen Seed (Kitzingen/Main, Germany).
Hill, D.E. (1990). Cauliflower and broccoli trials, Bulletin (New Haven: Connecticut, Agricultural Experiment
Station), pp.869.
Kılıç, S. (1989). Bazı yabancı kö kenli Pak choi (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis) çeşitlerinin Tokat koşullarında
adaptasyonu. Yü ksek lisans tezi (Tokat: Gaziosmanpaşa Universitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitü sü ), pp. 45.
Nieuwhof, M. (1969). Cole Crops (London: Leonard Hill), p.102–104.
Peirce, L.C. (1987). Vegetables-Characteristics, Production and Marketing (USA: Wiley, Cornell University), p.224–
227.
Siemonsma, J.S., and Piluek, K. (1994). Plant Resources of South-East Asia (Vegetables) (Wageningen, the
Netherlands: Pudoc Scientific Publishers), p.181–184.
Vanparys, L. (1999). Pak-coi. Early cultivation of Pak-choi: the standart cultivar is still good. HortScience 9 (11),
14–15.
Wanitprapha, K., Huggins, A.C, and Nakamoto, S.T. (1992). Won Bok & Pak Choi. Economic Fact Sheet 18
(Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources,
University of Hawaii).
Yamaguchi, M. (1983). World Vegatables Principles Production and Nutritive Values (Westport, Connecticut: AVI
Publishing Company), pp.415.
Zhu, B., Yang, J., and Zhu, Z.J. (2013). Variation in glucosinolates in pak choi cultivars and various organs at
different stages of vegetative growth during the harvest period. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 14 (4), 309–317
https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B1200213. PubMed

61
 62

View publication stats