Breeding of new Asparagus officinalis purple cultivars ‘RG murasakishikibu First’ and ‘RG murasakishikibu Luce’

Japan is home to several purple Asparagus officinalis cultivars, including ‘Pacific Purple’ and ‘Purple Passion.’ These cultivars have low yield, slow emergence, and a dark spear color.
Therefore, two new cultivars, ‘RG murasakishikibu First’ and ‘RG murasakishikibu Luce’ were developed.
These two new cultivars are hybrid asparagus cultivars bred by the single cross of different male and female plants selected from the tetraploid cultivar, ‘Purple Passion.’ The harvest start date of ‘RG murasakishikibu First’ was four to seven days earlier than ‘Pacific Purple’ and two to six days later than ‘UC157’. The spear weight, number, and yield of ‘RG murasakishikibu First’ equaled ‘Pacific Purple’ and its yield was equivalent to ‘UC157’. Its spear color had a chroma c* value greater than or equal to ‘Pacific Purple.’ The plant height, number of stems, stem diameter, growth index, and height up to the first branch were the same as those of ‘Pacific Purple.’ ‘RG murasakishikibu First’ plant height was greater, stem diameter was thicker, growth index was higher, and height up to the first branch was greater than ‘UC157’. The harvest start date of ‘RG murasakishikibu Luce’ was two to four days earlier than ‘Pacific Purple’ and three to nine days later than ‘UC157’. The spear weight was slightly heavier than that of ‘Pacific Purple,’ with the same number of stems and higher yield (equivalent to ‘UC157’). The spear color had higher chromatic components, a* and chroma c* values, than ‘Pacific Purple’. Plant height, number of stems, stem diameter, growth index, and height up to the first branch were equivalent to those of ‘Pacific Purple.’ Plant height was greater, stem diameter was thicker, growth index was higher, and height up to the first branch was higher than ‘UC157’.

III Asian Horticultural Congress – AHC2020

T. Sonoda

development, spear, yield, emergence, color

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1312.8