Sj. Mccormick et Dl. Thomsen, HYBRID ASPARAGUS CULTIVARS - REGIONAL SUITABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY FOR PROCESSING AND FRESH EXPORT IN WAIKATO, NEW-ZEALAND, New Zealand journal of crop and horticultural science, 23(2), 1995, pp. 205-212
The green spear production characteristics of 26 European and United S
tates asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) hybrids were compared with
those of the open-pollinated cultivar 'Mary Washington 500W'. The high
er numbers, weights, and proportions of marketable grade spears produc
ed by the United States hybrids 'Jersey Giant', 'Jersey King', and 'UC
157' and by the Dutch hybrids 'Limbras 10' and 'Limbras 26', increased
processing and fresh export yields by 50-150% and 160-450% respective
ly. 'Jersey Giant', with earlier production and higher Stemphylium dis
ease resistance, was the most productive. 'Limbras 10' and 'Jersey Kin
g' yielded 22% less processing and 30% less export product than 'Jerse
y Giant.' For export, 'UC157' produced an equal yield of earlier, high
er quality, less purple spears than 'Limbras 10' or 'Jersey King'. Cou
ntry of origin rather than type provided the best indication of the ab
ility of the hybrids to increase marketable yields. European and Unite
d States double and single-cross, mixed-sex and all-male hybrids offer
ed similar scope to improve total yield and early production. The supe
rior spear quality of the United States hybrids offered better prospec
ts for improving marketable yield. The United States 'New Jersey' hybr
ids were the only group with improved Stemphylium disease resistance.