TRANSPLANTATION OF MICROPROPAGATED ASPARAGUS PLANTS TO GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS: THE IMPORTANCE OF IN VITRO ROOT DEVELOPMENT

ISHS Acta Horticulturae 271: VII International Asparagus Symposium

**TRANSPLANTATION OF MICROPROPAGATED ASPARAGUS PLANTS TO GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS: THE IMPORTANCE OF IN VITRO ROOT DEVELOPMENT**

Authors:

A.J. Conner, Debbie J. Abernethy, Peter G. Falloon

Abstract:
The importance of in vitro root development for the growth and survival of micropropagated asparagus plants under greenhouse conditions was assessed for 3 genotypes (ASCO1, ASC14, CRD100). As individual plants were transplanted, the length of their storage roots was categorised into one of 4 classes - none, <2 cm, 2–5 cm, or >5 cm.

Plants with a greater development of in vitro storage roots exhibited the following features upon transplantation:

Higher survival rates in the humidity tent immediately following transplantation.
Less time until the initiation of new shoot growth.
Higher survival rates among plants established on a greenhouse bench.
Greater shoot growth at 9 weeks post transplantation.

An ideotype for micropropagated asparagus plants consists of an in vitro minicrown supporting 4–6 shoots (1–2 cm long) and 3–4 storage roots (4–5 cm long). Such plants typically develop on a high sucrose rooting medium.

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