Vegetative Propagation of Asparagus Through Tissue Culture

Abstract

Asparagus, a cross-pollinated dioecious crop, is generally propagated through seeds, and extreme variation in yielding ability of individuals in a variety is common. Consequently, the use of small plot technique for field investigations has been virtually inapplicable.

Asparagus Tetraploids from Callus Tissue1

“…Ploidy levels were determined for asparagus propagules derived from rooted cuttings (1) and callus tissue (9). Chromosome counts were made from root tips of all plants, and from apical buds of young shoots and pollen mother cells of certain plants.…”

“…Commercially, pecan cultivars are grafted or budded onto seedling rootstocks. The disadvantages of a seedling rootstock and the potential advantages of a clonal rootstock have been discussed (1,9,11). At present a clonal rootstock for pecans is not available on a commercial basis.…”

“…At present a clonal rootstock for pecans is not available on a commercial basis. Attempts to propagate a clonal rootstock have generally been unsuccessful (4,5,7,8,9,11,12,13,14). Although varying percentages of rooting were obtained, survival was apparently poor or non-existent.…”

Tissue Culture Technique Developed for Asparagus Propagation

“…Several workers have tried to develop a practical technique for vegetative mass production of asparagus plants from somatic cell and organ cultures. Complete plants have been obtained by callus and cell cultures (15,27,28,31,33,34) and the feasibility of clonal propaga tion from cell culture has been demonstrated (25). Unfortunately, some of the plants produced by callus and cell cultures are tetraploid and involve aneuploid cells (15,28,31).…”

“…Complete plants have been obtained by callus and cell cultures (15,27,28,31,33,34) and the feasibility of clonal propaga tion from cell culture has been demonstrated (25). Unfortunately, some of the plants produced by callus and cell cultures are tetraploid and involve aneuploid cells (15,28,31). Therefore, there is a question as to the use of this method for rapid propagation of asparagus plants.…”