In Vitro Multiplication of Two Genotypes of Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)

Abstract

Asparagus is a vegetable that presents an increase in yield when propagated by meristem culture. On the order hand, the rooting phase in asparagus is greatly affected by the previous phase, i.e,. multiplication. This species presents a better rooting performance when callus is formed at the shoot base. So, the aim of this work was to evaluate treatments during the multiplication phase, which also leads to callus formation at the shoot base. The initial explants came from shoots being cultivated in vitro. It was tested kinetin at: (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0) μM; ancymidol at (0.0 and 0.5) μM and NAA at (0.0 and 0.5) μM for both genotypes, which were cultured in a MS medium added to sucrose (30 g·L–1), agar (6.0 g·L–1) and myo-inositol (100.0 m g·L–1). Shoots bearing two buds were inoculated in 10-ml test tubes and placed in a growth room for 30 days when they were evaluated. The addition of kinetin significantly improved the number of buds and at 1.3 μM this growth substance presented the best results as number of shoots is concerned. NAA application promoted a negative effect on spear bearing. The addition of ancymidol in this phase did not improve the bud multiplication. It was shown that clone M14 performed better than the hybrid cv. Deco as multiplication is concerned.