ISHS Acta Horticulturae 479: IX International Asparagus Symposium
BREEDING PURPLE ASPARAGUS FROM TETRAPLOID "VIOLETTO D'ALBENGA" |
| Authors: | Peter G. Falloon, A.M. Andersen |
| Keywords: | Pacific Purple, asparagus breeding, diploid, green |
| Abstract:
Violetto de Albenga (VA) is an open pollinated selection of a tetraploid asparagus species from northern Italy. Spears of VA have less fiber and taste sweeter than diploid green asparagus. Seed of VA produces plants with spear color ranging from green to dark purple. Lack of uniformity of spear color limits the commercial production of this variety. In 1991, 39 pair crosses were made between 9 female and 6 male plants with purple spears. These had been selected from a small population of VA. The 39 experimental hybrids were planted in a replicated field trial in 1992 and compared to two commercial diploid varieties (UC 157 and JWCI) and a tetraploid variety selected from VA that segregates for color (Purple Passion). After three harvest seasons one experimental hybrid produced significantly higher yields than Purple Passion, no hybrids produced significantly higher yields than UC 157 and JWC1 and 26 experimental hybrids produced yields not significantly different to UC 157 and JWC1. The proportion of saleable spears was usually higher in the tetraploid hybrids than the diploid green hybrids but mean plant survival was lower for the tetraploids than the diploids. Difficulties were experienced in tissue culture of the tetraploid species. Seed of a pure purple variety is now being produced from a polycross block established with plants identified in a progeny test as producing seedlings with only purple spears. This variety has been named "Pacific Purple". | |
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