Abstract
Analysis of spears of 9 cultivars of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) revealed differences in fiber content between cultivars. The least fiber was found in ‘MSU-1’, ‘Mary Washington’, and ‘U.C. 72’, and the most in ‘N.J. Improved’ and ‘U.C. 711’. There were significant differences in fiber content in the 5 sections of spear studied; the tip (10 cm) portion of spear had the least while the bottom section (17.5 – 20.0 cm from the tip) had the most fiber.
Abstract
Standing freshly harvested 21-cm asparagus spears (Asparagus officinalis L.) in 50 ml of 1 mg·liter−1 to 10 g·liter−1 aqueous glyphosate solutions significantly decreased toughening and the amount of fiber and lignin in spears stored at 2.5°C for 10 or 20 days. The effect increased with storage time and concentration, but decreased with distance from the cut end. Depending on the time of harvest and length of storage, 1 g·liter−1 glyphosate increased the usable portion of the spear from 40% to 60%. Chemical name used: N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (glyphosate).
Abstract
Progenies of 25 sib matings among 5 staminate and 5 pistillate green-stemmed parents of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) were classified by stem color. Subsequently, purple offspring of these crosses were mated to single staminate or pistillate plants, and green offspring were mated to staminate and pistillate plants of the purple cultivar ‘Viking’. Chi Square tests supported a mechanism of inheritance based upon interaction between 2 linked genes. One dominant gene I apparently inhibits expression of dominant P (purple stem). Linkage of between 30% and 40% crossover units is suggested by observed ratios.
Abstract
“Asparagus decline” decreases production and kills Asparagus officinalis L. The principal pathogens involved in the decline are considered to be Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi Cohen and Heald (FOA) and F. moniliforme (Sheld.) emend. Synder and Hans. (FM). Three- to four-month-old plants of A. officinalis and three other asparagus species were inoculated in the greenhouse and evaluated for resistance to these Fusarium spp. Of the 90 A. officinalis accessions evaluated, two all-male cultivars, Lucullus 234 and 328, received the lowest disease ratings to FOA and FM. Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ and ‘Myersii’ received the lowest disease ratings of the other asparagus species tested. Of the total 95 germplasm entries evaluated, 39% were more resistant than the susceptible control ‘UC 157’, 44% were rated similiar in susceptibility, and 17% were more susceptible. Accessions responded similiarly to both Fusarium spp.
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.
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
Treatment of spears of pistillate asparagus (XX) with 5000 mg/liter gibberellic acid (GA3) plus 1000 mg/liter 6-benzyl-amino-9-(tetrahydro-2-pyryl)-purine (PBA) or 2000 and 5000 mg/liter GA3 alone induced development of stamens with sterile anthers. Spears of XY staminate genotype treated with 10 mg/liter PBA or PBA plus 50 g/liter glucose had more hermaphroditic flowers with ovules than untreated flowers; seedless fruits developed after pollination. YY staminate genotype developed pistils with styles following treatment of spears with 100 mg/liter PBA or PBA plus 50 g/liter glucose. Some ovules had well developed integuments and chalaza but no embryo sacs. PBA reduced stamen length and increased anther sterility.
Abstract
Spraying 9-month-old asparagus seedlings (Asparagus officinalis L.) with dikegulac-sodium (atrinal) solutions ranging from 0 to 500 ppm in 100-ppm increments increased the number of new shoots, particularly within the range of 300 to 500 ppm. The response was elicited 4 weeks after the treatment and continued thereafter over the 10 weeks, during which measurements were taken. Dikegulac did not affect the height or the fresh and dry weights of the plants for this first phase. Emergence of new shoots after the plants had been cut off was equally affected by dikegulac; 300 to 500 ppm was still the most effective. However, effectiveness was significant after 2 weeks. The height of plants was significantly reduced by the chemical, but the fresh and dry weights were not affected. At the third phase, none of the growth characteristics, including shoot emergence, was affected by the chemical. This lack of response may be attributable to the depletion of carbohydrate reserves in the fleshy roots. Chemical name used: 2,3:4,6-bis-O-(1-methylethylidene)-α-L-xylo-2-hexulofuranosonic acid (dikegulac).
Abstract
A high concentration of inhibitors which were as high as that of gibberellin (GA)-like substances was found in young asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) spears using the rice seedling bioassay, and one of inhibitors was identified as abscisic acid (ABA) by gas chromatography. Endogenous ABA was extracted more thoroughly from the lyophilized materials than from frozen tissue. ABA level was the highest in tops including growing points of spears, and was always higher in the distal half than in the proximal, and higher in the cortex than in the pith. Free ABA levels tended to increase with the development of spears, while bound ABA levels remained the same irrespective of age. Three peaks of ABA were found in crown buds and root tips in March or April, August and December. Presumably asparagus crowns were in the deepest dormancy around the middle of December. Clearly the degree of dormancy from October to January paralleled ABA levels in crown buds and root tips. Endogenous levels of ABA in buds at developing stages was found highest in the resting buds.
screening method. Units Literature cited Biffi, R. Restivo, F.M. Caporali, A. Marziani, G.P. Spada, A. Falavigna, A. 1995 A restriction fragment length polymorphism probe for early diagnosis of gender in Asparagus officinalis L HortScience 30 1463 1464 10