Abstract
The effect of inflorescence removal at different stages of plant growth were investigated in Florence fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum) cv. Tiber and basil (Ocimum basilicum) cv. Fino. Fennel was topped (1) at the boot stage; (2) at emergence of the primary umbel (PU) with removal of the PU and first order umbels; (3) at emergence of the PU with removal of the PU only; (4) at the beginning of PU flowering; or (5) at full flowering of the PU. All treatments apart from 5 were applied in the first year and only (1), (4) and (5) in the second. Comparison was made with untopped controls. With basil, which was used only in the second year, (1) the main stem was topped at spike appearance; (2) as (1) but all stems were removed; (3) as (1), but 7 days later; (4) as (2), but 7 days later; (5) as (1), but 14 days later; (6) the apex and 2 expanded leaves were removed on all stems; or (7) the apex and 3 expanded leaves were removed on all stems. Topping treatments did not influence the yield components of fennel or basil. In the first year, fennel given treatment (4), had at least 4% higher germination than the other treatments. In the second year, treatments (1) and (2) reduced germination, while treatment (5) gave the fastest germinating seed. With basil, the highest (57%) and lowest (25%) germination was found with treatments (6) and (5), respectively. Treatment (1) produced seeds with slower germination.