Asparagus decline and replant problem in New Zealand

Crop failures associated with asparagus replanting have been ascribed to a combination of microbiological and chemical influences. Extracts from asparagus roots and soil were examined to locate inhibitory chemicals. Analysis of root extract fractions in a seedling assay showed that phenolic and saponin components inhibited growth but the most inhibitory material was located in the amino acid/carbohydrate fraction. However, inhibitory asparagus soil extracts did not contain significant levels of active compounds (tryptophan, caffeic acid) identified from root extracts.

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“…The literature has been reviewed recently (Schofield 1991) and asparagus decline in New Zealand was attributed principally to…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Replant problem and chemical components of asparagus roots

Lake

Falloon²,

Cook³

1993

New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science

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“…Replant disease is reported from many asparagus growing regions (Grogan and Kimble, 1959;Young, 1984;Hartung, 1987;Schofield, 1991). A remarkable feature is the persistence of the causal factor(s).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…var. sojae Hildebrand was shown to cause establishment failures, particularly under wet conditions and in a replant situation (Schofield, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of autotoxins from root residues of the previous crop in the replant disease of asparagus

Blok

Bollen

1993

Neth. J. Pl. Path.

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Replant disease is a common phenomenon in asparagus growing in the Netherlands. It is distinct from the decline phenomenon reported from many other asparagus producing area's. The involvement of autotoxins from root residues of former asparagus crops was evaluated. Residues of asparagus roots decompose extremely slowly. At two locations, each with fields where asparagus production was terminated 1 and 10 years before, biomass of root residues was 4180 and 11060 kg dw ha -I after 1 year and 420 and 1140 kg dw ha -I after 10 years.Although 10-year-old residues were for the greater part decomposed, crude aqueous extracts inhibited root growth of asparagus seedlings significantly and even more of garden cress. In root observation boxes with field soil mixed with non-sterilized or sterilized asparagus root fragments, growth of secondary roots was inhibited. Non-sterilized strawberry roots did not inhibit root growth, suggesting that effects of organic matter were not involved. In a pot experiment, sterilized asparagus root fragments inhibited root growth when added ata rate of 20 g I ~, but not at 2 g 1-~. Addition of non-sterilized root fragments strongly inhibited root growth at both levels. This was probably due to simultaneous infection by Fusarium oxysporum present in these residues. When an asparagus field is replanted, the amount of root residues left behind in soil after termination of the crop in the previous season is about 2 g dw I ], that corresponds to approx. 11000 kg dw ha -~. This level is too low for considering direct growth inhibition by autotoxins as a major factor. Their possible indirect effects are briefly discussed.

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“…Problems after replanting former asparagus land are reported from many regions [Grogan and Kimble, 1959;Young, 1984;Schofield, 1991]. In most cases, it is a matter of establishing a commercially profitable stand.…”

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confidence: 99%

Fungi on roots and stem bases of asparagus in the Netherlands: species and pathogenicity

Blok

Bollen

1995

Eur J Plant Pathol

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A survey was made to identify the most important soilborne fungal pathogens of asparagus crops in the Netherlands. Ten plants were selected from each of five fields with a young (1-4 y) first planting, five fields with an old (6-13 y) first planting and five fields with a young replanting. The analysis included fungi present in the stem base and the roots of plants with symptoms of foot and root rot or showing growth decline without specific disease symptoms. Isolates of each species were tested for pathogenicity to asparagus on aseptically grown plantlets on Knop's agar. Symptoms were caused by Fusarium oxysporum, F. culmorum, Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium verrucosum var. cyclopium, Cylindrocarpon didymum, Phialophora malorum, Phoma terrestris and Acremonium strictum. F. oxysporum was by far the most common species and was isolated from 80% of the plants. Not all of its isolates were pathogenic to asparagus. Symptoms were caused by 67%, 78% and 93% of the isolates obtained from young first plantings, old first plantings and replantings, respectively. F. culmorum was isolated from 31% of the plants. Two other notorious pathogens of asparagus, F. moniliforme and F. proliferatum, did not occur in our samples.Species causing symptoms in the vitro test that were found on more than 5% of the plants were additionally tested for their pathogenicity in pot experiments. F. oxysporum f.sp. asparagi caused severe foot md root rot, significantly reduced root weights and killed most of the plants. F. culmorum caused lesions )n the stem base often resulting in death of the plant. P. terrestris, a fungus only once reported as a 9athogen of asparagus, caused an extensive root rot, mainly of secondary roots that became reddish. The :ungus was isolated in only a few samples and is not to be regarded as an important pathogen in Dutch sparagus crops. P. malorum caused many small brown lesions on the stem base and incidentally also n the upper part of small main roots. This is the first report of its pathogenicity to asparagus. The angus is one of the organisms inciting spear 'rust' and it reduced crop quality rather than crop yield. P. errucosum var. cyclopium and C. didymum did not cause symptoms in pot experiments. Because of its predominance on plants with foot and root rot and its high virulence, F. oxysporum sp. asparagi was considered to be the main soilborne pathogen of asparagus in the Netherlands. Ltroduction'paragus (Asparagus officinalis L.) is one of the tin vegetable crops grown in the southeastern part of the Netherlands. The asparagus produced is almost exclusively white asparagus. In this area, asparagus has been grown for several decades and many growers do not have fresh land available.

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Asparagus decline and replant problem in New Zealand

Cited by 27 publications

References 29 publications

Replant problem and chemical components of asparagus roots

Replant problem and chemical components of asparagus roots

The role of autotoxins from root residues of the previous crop in the replant disease of asparagus

Fungi on roots and stem bases of asparagus in the Netherlands: species and pathogenicity

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