Use of allozyme variation for evaluating genetic purity in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) cultivars

The study demonstrates the usefulness and applicability of allozyme variati on as genetic markers in asparagus. Thirteen cultivars and one supermale st rain were surveyed for allozyme polymorphism by starch gel electrophoresis. Five enzyme systems showed polymorphism, and eight loci with 19 alleles we re determined by the segregation patterns of offspring obtained from artifi cial crosses. Allozyme variation within cultivars was found to provide a pr actical and rapid estimation of genetic purity or seed contamination in com mercial seed lots in clonal hybrid cultivars.