Search Results
Abstract
Methyl l-(butylcarbamoyl)-2-benzimidazolcarbamate (benomyl), a systemic fungicide, added to modified Murashige and Skoog's medium regulated asparagus shoot and root development. Low levels of benomyl (10 to 50 ppm) promoted multiple vigorous shoot development. Higher levels of benomyl (100 to 250 ppm) caused the development of abnormally short, thick shoots and inhibited root formation. The enlargement of the shoots is due to proliferation of cortex, phloem, and xylem cells.
Abstract
Asparagus officinalis L. plants infected with either asparagus virus 1 or asparagus virus 2 exhibited mild reduction of vigor and productivity. Plants infected with both viruses showed severe decline and mortality in the second year in the field.
Abstract
Asparagus officinalis L. is a cross-pollinated dioecious crop. Staminate plants are more productive than pistillate plants (12, 23, 24). If a field of all staminate plants, representing superior selections, could be established, then increased yields would result. Propagation of asparagus by seeds results in almost equal numbers of staminate and pistillate plants and in individual plants of varying yielding ability (4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 23, 24, 39). Propagation by stem cuttings has not been possible (29, 30) and division of individual crowns has not been commericially feasible as only a few genetically identical plants at any one time can be developed. It would be an advantage to propagate genetically identical asparagus plants in large quantities from superior selections. Tissue culture shows promise as a useful method to reach this objective. It has been estimated that 300,000 transplantable asparagus plants may be produced from a single shoot apex culture in a year (9), but it remains to be demonstrated in actual practice. This discussion will summarize the tissue culture methods that have been developed and describe a possible procedure for vegetative mass production of asparagus plants through tissue culture.
Abstract
Crude aqueous extracts from dead stems, crowns, and roots from both field-grown and tissue-cultured asparagus plants delayed, but did not prevent, germination of asparagus seed. Root extract inhibited root and shoot development of asparagus seedlings grown in growth pouches. Stem and crown extracts reduced root growth but not shoot growth. The extracts of all 3 tissues caused more secondary root formation and root branching. The highest concentration of extract from crown-plus-root tissues, 5 g of tissue/100 ml water, inhibited radicle growth and killed seedlings. Toxicity of the crown-root extract was not reduced by adding activated charcoal to the extract or by autoclaving the extract. These results suggest that toxic substances in dead asparagus tissue are water-soluble and stable and may persist in old asparagus fields.
Abstract
6-Furfuxylamino purine (kinetin) at 0.1% plus indoleacetic acid (IAA) at 0.005 to 0.025% in lanolin, applied directly to the lateral buds at nodes on the basal portion of stems induced aerial crown formation with shoot growth.
Abstract
Asparagus plants freed of 3 viruses were obtained by aseptic culture of shoot tips and apical meristems. More plantlets developed from shoot tip cultures than from apicalmeristem cultures, but a much larger proportion of the meristem cultures were virus free. Consequently, the number of virus-free plants obtained by these 2 methods were approximately equal. The ease of excising and culturing shoot tips makes this the preferred method. The aseptic stock plants obtained are being used as the source of propagants for mass production of virus-free asparagus plants.
Abstract
More rooted Asparagus officinalis L. plantlets were obtained in vitro from stem segments with 3 or more branch-shoots than from those with 1 or 2 branch-shoots; those without branch-shoots produced the fewest plantlets.
Abstract
One-bud segments from moderately vigorous shoots of aseptically grown Asparagus officinalis L. stock plants were cultured on modified Murashige and Skoog’s medium (MMS) containing 0.1 ppm of α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 6-furfurylamino purine (kinetin). Only 35% of the cultures developed into rooted plantlets. A high percentage of nonrooted plantlets were induced to root by reculturing on fresh MMS medium containing 0.1 ppm NAA. More plantlets rooted if they were older than 4 weeks when recultured on the fresh medium.
Abstract
Survival of Asparagus officinalis L. transplants in soil was significantly improved with a minimum of labor when they were first transplanted into the Jiffy 7 peat pots from aseptic culture and grown under intermittent mist for 5 to 8 days.
Abstract
Asparagus is generally propagated by seed and occasionally by crown division. Crowns are usually formed underground at the base of stem (1, 2, 3, 4). To our knowledge, the formation of crowns at above-ground nodes and plant development therefrom has never been reported. Occurrence of such crowns opens the way to a rapid means of vegetative propagation. Here we describe the morphology of aerial crown formation and subsequent development of these crowns into apparently normal plants.