title: [Effects of top pruning on fruiting characters of Platycodon grandiflorum].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of top pruning on fruiting characters of Platycodon grandiflorum, and find the suitable stage, in which seed growth and development furtherly.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-year old seedlings were chosen and planted in field. Plant height, branching number, fruit number per plant, 1000 grains weight were measured during growth and development period, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment of top pruning postponed in turn the flowering date, lowered the plant heights and the fruit number per plant, increased the branching number and influenced significantly on 1000 grains weights.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The suitable stage of top pruning for producing seeds was from June 20th to July 5th.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Nuclear Technique and Space Breeding of Chinese Herb, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science, Jinan 250100, China. wzfchm@163.com
authors.forename: Zhi-fen
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cheng-gang
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Xue-he
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Shu-lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Lian-xian
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Chun-qing
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Sui
mesh_terms: D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development; D005638:Fruit / Q000254:growth & development*; D031238:Platycodon / Q000254:growth & development*