Abstract
Table 1. Effect of BA sprays on subsequent shoot emergence of asparagus seedlings from 26 Nov. to 21 Dec. 1990 (10 to 35 days after spraying). The progressive emergence of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) spears is caused by apical dominance shoot inhibition. Applied cytokinins may affect apical dominance by releasing lateral shoot buds from inhibition (Philips, 1969). Applying kinetin directly to buds induced axillary shoot stimulation in poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.) (Milbocker, 1972) and branching in Kalanchoe tormentosa Bak. (Lyons and Hale, 1987). N-(phenylmethyl)-lH-purine-6-amine (benzyladenine, BA) also released axillary apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) buds from correlative inhibition (Green and Autio, 1989). Field drenching asparagus crowns with BA at 25 and 50 mg·liter reduced spear emergence and yield (Benson, 1970). Soaking 1-year-old crowns in BA at 200 mg·liter did not affect asparagus bud inhibition (unpublished data); however, the effects of applying BA to asparagus ferns have not been reported previously. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of foliar BA applications on shoot emergence and growth of potted asparagus seedlings outdoors. ‘Mary Washington’, ‘UC 157 F1 ’, and ‘UC 157 F2’ asparagus cultivars were grown outdoors on benches in 25 × 25 × 20-cm (height and upper and lower diameters) black pots containing a 3 peatmoss : 1 perlite : 1 vermiculite (by volume) soilless medium with a pH of 6.2. Three seeds were planted per pot on 18 July 1990. Seedlings were thinned to one plant per pot. During the growing period, the plants were fertilized monthly with 10 g of l0N-4.5P-8.3K granular formulation per pot and watered as needed. After 4 months (16
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