Asparagus Research Articles

Response of Chosen American Asparagus officinalis L. Cultivars to Drip Irrigation on the Sandy Soil in Central Europe: Growth, Yield, and Water Productivity

The aim of this study was to verify the response of 13 American asparagus cultivars cultivated for green spear on surface postharvest drip irrigation. Irrigation, used to compensate for periodic deficiencies in precipitation, allows for high- and good-quality crops for many species. The field experiment was carried out in 2006–2008 on a very light sandy soil in central Europe (Poland). Irrigation treatments were applied using the tensiometer indications. Water requirements of asparagus were calculated on the base of reference evapotranspiration and crop coefficients. The following evaluations were made: Height, diameter, and number of summer stalks, as well marketable yield, weight, and number of consumption green spears. Drip irrigation applied for 2 years (2006–2007) in the postharvest period had a positive effect on all studied traits in both summer stalks and green spears in 2007–2008. A significant increase in the height, number, and diameter of summer stalks, as well an increase in the marketable yield, weight, and number of green spears was observed for most of the cultivars. In general, postharvest drip irrigation of asparagus cultivated in very light sandy soil significantly contributes to the increase in productivity of American cultivars of this species.

Nutricosmetic effects of Asparagus officinalis: a potent matrix metalloproteinase-1 inhibitor

This study aimed to investigate the nutricosmetic effect of Asparagus officinalis extracts. The tip and spear of A. officinalis were successively extracted with 95% ethanol. The rutin, phenolic, and flavonoid contents of A. officinalis extracts were investigated. The antioxidant activities were determined by 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) and a ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), elastase, and hyaluronidase inhibition were determined by in vitro enzyme reaction assay. The cytotoxicity was analyzed on peripheral blood mononuclear cellss. Findings revealed that drying temperature and drying duration had significant effects on the chemical composition and biological activity of A. officinalis extract. A. officinalis tips dried at 50 °C for 24 h contained the (significantly) highest flavonoid and rutin content. The most potent extract was from A. officinalis spears since it possessed the (significantly) highest MMP-1, elastase, and hyaluronidase inhibition rates of 83.4 ± 1.5%, 70.4 ± 4.1%, and 75.2 ± 1.0%, respectively. Interestingly, at the same concentration, the A. officinalis spear extract was more potent in MMP-1 inhibition than oleanolic acid and epigallocatechin gallate, the well-known natural MMP-1 inhibitors. The results show that A. officinalis extract is an attractive source of natural anti-skin-wrinkle ingredients.

Changes in the primary and secondary metabolome of male green asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) as modulated by sequential harvesting

Rising temperature and solar radiation drive the mobilization and depletion of crown-deposited metabolites harnessed for asparagus spear regeneration during the spring harvest season. We presently examined how successive same-season harvests impact the sensory, nutritive and bioactive composition of select green asparagus genotypes. Soluble carbohydrates were analyzed by HPLC-RI, organic acids and polyphenols by HPLC-DAD and metals by ion chromatography. Higher sugars and lower acids accentuated sweetness and lower polyphenols contributed to reduced astringency at the beginning of the harvest season. This trend was reversed as the season advanced and spear sensory quality was compromised by declining sugars and rising acids; however, functional quality improved as antioxidant capacity increased along with the concentrations of quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin) and ascorbic acid. The compositional changes presently described were uniform across all genotypes examined and thus contribute toward our understanding of seasonal variation in the sensory and functional quality of this acclaimed health-promoting product.

A feathered concierge in Colombia’s Andean forest

In the spring of 2020, during the most severe weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in Colombia, a female bronzy inca (Coeligena coeligena) built a nest and successfully raised two chicks, outside the front door of a country house adjacent to a humid forest in the Western Andes near the city of Cali This hummingbird's nest was found in a hanging pot of asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus), a cultivated decorative houseplant native to Africa From mid-March to early May, the presence and behavior of the homeowners apparently did not disturb the hummingbird's nesting activities Evidence of species taking advantage of conditions during the so-called anthropause (or pandemic-inspired reduction in human activities) has already been documented, especially in urban habitats Might similar positive outcomes for biodiversity be occurring in rural areas, which are often characterized by a less intense human footprint?

Root-Associated Endophytic Bacterial Community Composition of Asparagus officinalis of Three Different Varieties.

The online version contains supplementary material available at (10.1007/s12088-021-00926-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Identification of Bioactive Compounds of Asparagus officinalis L.: Permutation Test Allows Differentiation among "Triguero" and Hybrid Green Varieties.

In this study, we determined the phytochemical profile of the Spanish “triguero” asparagus landrace “verde-morado” (Asparagus officinalis L.), a wild traditional landrace, and the improved “triguero” HT-801, together with two commercial green asparagus varieties. For comparison, we used reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC-DAD-ESI-TOF/MS) followed by a permutation test applied using a resampling methodology valid under a relaxed set of assumptions, such as i.i.d. errors (not necessarily normal) that are exchangeable under the null hypothesis. As a result, we postulate that “triguero” varieties (the improved HT-801 followed by its parent “verde-morado”) have a significantly different phytochemical profile from that of the other two commercial hybrid green varieties. In particular, we found compounds specific to the “triguero” varieties, such as feruloylhexosylhexose isomers, or isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, which was found only in the “triguero” variety HT-801. Although studies relating the phytochemical content of “triguero” asparagus varieties to its health-promoting effects are required, this characteristic phytochemical profile can be used for differentiating and revalorizating these asparagus cultivars.

Effects of Blanching and Drying Process on Total Flavonoid Content and DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity of Green Asparagus Spray-Dried Powder

In this study, the effects of blanching and spray drying processes on total flavonoid contents and DPPH radical antioxidant properties of green asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) spray-dried powder were investigated. Experiments were designed using one-factor-at-a-time in the blanching process and a three-level factorial with two factors, including drying temperature and the dry matter concentration in spray drying. The results showed that suitable blanching conditions were at a temperature of 85C in 4 minutes and chosen drying conditions were at a temperature of 160C and 10% dry matter concentration using maltodextrin as a carrier. Total flavonoid contents and DPPH free radical scavenging activity of asparagus spray-dried powder were 26.97 mg RE/g and 53.64 µmol TE/g, respectively.

The effect of partial replacement of maltodextrin with vegetable fibres in spray-dried white asparagus powder on its physical and aroma properties

Asparagus concentrate was spray-dried in different carrier formulations in which maltodextrin was partially replaced by cellulose-based carriers, i.e. asparagus fibre, citrus fibre or microcrystalline cellulose. This replacement was limited to a maximum level of 3% w/w for asparagus and citrus fibres, and 10% w/w for microcrystalline cellulose, due to fibre insolubility and increased viscosity of the feed. Powders obtained from feed solutions with an initial solids content of 40% w/w showed better physical properties and aroma retention than 30% w/w. Partial replacement of maltodextrin by cellulose-based carriers resulted in powders with similar physical properties as the control and did not detrimentally influence the aroma profiles as analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. This research shows that fibre obtained from asparagus waste streams could potentially be used as a carrier to produce spray-dried asparagus powder with retained key asparagus volatiles such as 2-methoxy-3-isopropyl pyrazine.

Pharmacological properties of edible Asparagus acutifolius and Asparagus officinalis collected from North Iraq and Turkey (Hatay)

AbstractIn this study, antioxidant, oxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative activities of Asparagus acutifolius L. and Asparagus officinalis L., known for their nutritional properties, were determined. In this context, methanol (MeOH) and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts of plants were obtained. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) were determined using Rel Assay kits. Antimicrobial activities of plant extracts were determined against the test microorganisms using the agar dilution method. Antiproliferative activity was tested on the lung cancer cell line A549. As a result of the studies, it has been determined that the plant species have high antioxidant potential. In addition, it was observed that the antifungal potentials of plant extracts are high. Antiproliferative activity was determined to be at high level in both plant species. As a result, it has been determined that A. acutifolius and A. officinalis have medical potential and can be used as natural agents in pharmacological designs.

Packaging Solutions to Extend the Shelf Life of Green Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) 'Vegalim'.

The aim of the study was to assess, through a comparative shelf-life test, the suitability of two packaging materials, namely macro-perforated polypropylene (PP MA) and micro-perforated coextruded polypropylene (PP C), for the quality preservation of green asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L. ‘Vegalim’). Quality of spears was evaluated during 30 days at refrigerated storage by monitoring chemical, physical, and enzymatic parameters as well as sensory descriptors. PP C kept headspace composition close to suggested values for fresh green asparagus. Total color difference increased during the storage and it was highly correlated with chlorophyll-a and carotenoids, however, sensory color perception did not change significantly until 22 days of storage. PP C maintained ascorbic acid concentrations close to the initial levels, limited total phenolic compound loss to 24% (45% in PP MA), determined an increase of 72% in fiber content and small changes in lignin value; enzymatic changes were significantly inhibited. Significant sensorial differences were detected after 22 days of storage, with PP C performing better than PP MA. PP C film was confirmed as the best choice, limiting weight loss and maintaining a fresh-like appearance during 30 days of storage, thus allowing an extension in postharvest life.

Asparanin A inhibits cell migration and invasion in human endometrial cancer via Ras/ERK/MAPK pathway

Asparanin A (AA), a natural compound present in vegetables and medicinal herbs like Asparagus officinalis L., has been investigated extensively for its pharmacological attributes. So far, the effect of AA on endometrial cancer (EC) cell migration and invasion has not been explored. Herein, we elucidated the anti-metastasis mechanism of AA on Ishikawa cells based on miRNA-seq and mRNA-seq integrated analyses. AA treatment led to altered miRNAs expression in Ishikawa cells and inhibited the cell wound healing, cell migration and invasion. Gene Ontology and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that the target genes of different expression miRNAs were significantly enriched in Ras, Rap1 and MAPK signaling pathways. Further verification of these changes via qRT-PCR and Western blot assays in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that AA could suppress human EC cell migration and invasion through Ras/ERK/MAPK pathway. Furthermore, top two miRNAs (miR-6236-p5 and miR-12136_R+8) and top three target genes (KITLG, PDGFD, and NRAS) were identified as functional hub miRNAs and genes through miRNA-target gene network analysis. Our data presented a holistic approach to comprehend the anti-metastatic role of AA in EC after in vitro and in vivo analyses.

Two Novel Endornaviruses Co-infecting a Phytophthora Pathogen of Asparagus officinalis Modulate the Developmental Stages and Fungicide Sensitivities of the Host Oomycete.

Two novel endornaviruses, Phytophthora endornavirus 2 (PEV2) and Phytophthora endornavirus 3 (PEV3) were found in isolates of a Phytophthora pathogen of asparagus collected in Japan. A molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated that PEV2 and PEV3 belong to the genus Alphaendornavirus. The PEV2 and PEV3 genomes consist of 14,345 and 13,810 bp, and they contain single open reading frames of 4,640 and 4,603 codons, respectively. Their polyproteins contain the conserved domains of an RNA helicase, a UDP-glycosyltransferase, and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which are conserved in other alphaendornaviruses. PEV2 is closely related to Brown algae endornavirus 2, whereas PEV3 is closely related to Phytophthora endornavirus 1 (PEV1), which infects a Phytophthora sp. specific to Douglas fir. PEV2 and PEV3 were detected at high titers in two original Phytophthora sp. isolates, and we found a sub-isolate with low titers of the viruses during subculture. We used the high- and low-titer isolates to evaluate the effects of the viruses on the growth, development, and fungicide sensitivities of the Phytophthora sp. host. The high-titer isolates produced smaller mycelial colonies and much higher numbers of zoosporangia than the low-titer isolate. These results suggest that PEV2 and PEV3 inhibited hyphal growth and stimulated zoosporangium formation. The high-titer isolates were more sensitive than the low-titer isolate to the fungicides benthiavalicarb-isopropyl, famoxadone, and chlorothalonil. In contrast, the high-titer isolates displayed lower sensitivity to the fungicide metalaxyl (an inhibitor of RNA polymerase I) when compared with the low-titer isolate. These results indicate that persistent infection with PEV2 and PEV3 may potentially affect the fungicide sensitivities of the host oomycete.

Engineering Exosome-Like Nanovesicles Derived from Asparagus cochinchinensis Can Inhibit the Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells with Better Safety Profile.

BackgroundExosomes are a type of membrane vesicles secreted by living cells. Recent studies suggest exosome-like nanovesicles (ELNVs) from fruits and vegetables are involved in tissue renewal process and functional regulation against inflammatory diseases or cancers. However, there are few reports on ELNVs derived from medicinal plants.MethodsELNVs derived from Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. (ACNVs) were isolated and characterized. Cytotoxicity, antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing capacity of ACNVs against hepatoma carcinoma cell were assessed. The endocytosis mechanism of ACNVs was evaluated on Hep G2 cells in the presence of different endocytosis inhibitors. In vivo distribution of ACNVs was detected in healthy and tumor-bearing mice after scavenger receptors (SRs) blockade. PEG engineering of ACNVs was achieved through optimizing the pharmacokinetic profiles. In vivo antitumor activity and toxicity were evaluated in Hep G2 cell xenograft model.ResultsACNVs were isolated and purified using a differential centrifugation method accompanied by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. The optimized ACNVs had an average size of about 119 nm and showed a typical cup-shaped nanostructure containing lipids, proteins, and RNAs. ACNVs were found to possess specific antitumor cell proliferation activity associated with an apoptosis-inducing pathway. ACNVs could be internalized into tumor cells mainly via phagocytosis, but they were quickly cleared once entering the blood. Blocking the SRs or PEGylation decoration prolonged the blood circulation time and increased the accumulation of ACNVs in tumor sites. In vivo antitumor results showed that PEGylated ACNVs could significantly inhibit tumor growth without side effects.ConclusionThis study provides a promising functional nano platform derived from edible Asparagus cochinchinensis that can be used in antitumor therapy with negligible side effects.

Full-length transcriptome analysis of asparagus roots reveals the molecular mechanism of salt tolerance induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Soil salinity is one of the most serious abiotic stresses that limit agricultural productivity and the distribution of crops worldwide. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve the salt tolerance of host plants. A systematic study on plant responses to AMF under salinity stress may provide insights into the acquired salt tolerance. Here, we performed transcriptome sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION platform for asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) roots with 4 treatments: non-inoculated plants under optimal growth conditions (NI), inoculated plants under optimal growth conditions (AMF), non-inoculated plants under salinity stress conditions (NI + S), and inoculated plants under salinity stress conditions (AMF + S). A total of 6124 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) were determined. Based on Venn diagram analysis, 391 DETs were specially regulated by AMF under salinity stress rather than under optimal growth conditions, which may be linked to the salinity stress adaptation mediated by AMF. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses revealed that these transcripts mainly involved the regulation of ROS-scavenging capacity, water and nutrient status, and cell wall synthesis and modification. Furthermore, 23 differentially expressed transcription factors (TFs) were identified in the NI + S and AMF + S comparison, which are known to be associated with plant abiotic and biotic stress responses and regulation. Moreover, the identification of alternative splicing (AS) events indicated a more comprehensive response to AMF at the post-transcriptional level, which mainly occurs in genes involved in cell wall-related processes, transport, regulation of transcription, and response to abiotic stimulus. These results provide important insights into the salt tolerance induced by AMF and a solid basis for the future enhancement of plant tolerance to salinity stress.

Recognition of weeds at asparagus fields using multi-feature fusion and backpropagation neural network

In order to solve the problem of low recognition rates of weeds by a single feature, a method was proposed in this study to identify weeds in Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) field using multi-feature fusion and backpropagation neural network (BPNN). A total of 382 images of weeds competing with asparagus growth were collected, including 135 of Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., 138 of Conyza sumatrensis (Retz.) E. Walker, and 109 of Calystegia hederacea Wall. The grayscale images were extracted from the RGB images of weeds using the 2G-R-B factor. Threshold segmentation of the grayscale image of weeds was applied using Otsu method. Then the internal holes of the leaves were filled through the expansion and corrosion morphological operations, and other interference targets were removed to obtain the binary image. The foreground image was obtained by masking the binary image and the RGB image. Then, the color moment algorithm was used to extract weeds color feature, the gray level co-occurrence matrix and the Local Binary Pattern (LBP) algorithm was used to extract weeds texture features, and seven Hu invariant moment features and the roundness and slenderness ratio of weeds were extracted as their shape features. According to the shape, color, texture, and fusion features of the test samples, a weed identification model was built. The test results showed that the recognition rate of Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., Calystegia hederacea Wall. and Conyza sumatrensis (Retz.) E. Walker were 82.72% (color feature), 72.41% (shape feature), 86.73% (texture feature) and 93.51% (fusion feature), respectively. Therefore, this method can provide a reference for the study of weeds identification in the asparagus field. Keywords: weeds recognition, image processing, feature extraction, multi-feature fusion, BP neural network, asparagus field DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20211404.6135 Citation: Wang Y F, Zhang X D, Ma G X, Du X X, Shaheen N, Mao H P. Recognition of weeds at asparagus fields using multi-feature fusion and backpropagation neural network. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2021; 14(4): 190–198.

Isolation and characterization of PoWRKY, an abiotic stress-related WRKY transcription factor from Polygonatum odoratum.

WRKY transcription factors play vital roles in response to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. As a kind of high value medicinal plant, Polygonatum odoratum has an ability to tolerate various abiotic stresses because of the special growth condition. In current study, a novel WRKY gene from P. odoratum is isolated and compared with homologous sequences from other plants. PoWRKY1 possesses two typical WRKY domains and two C2H2 zinc-finger motifs. Evolutionary analysis indicated that PoWRKY1 is most closely related to WRKY protein from Asparagus officinalis. Expression analysis showed that expression of PoWRKY1 is induced by cold and drought stresses but not salt stress. Overexpression of PoWRKY1 in Arabidopsis improved seed germination and root growth of transgenic plants during cold stress and drought. In addition, super oxide dismutase activity and proline content in transgenic plants increased under cold and drought stresses, whereas malondialdehyde levels and relative electrolyte leakage reduced under similar stressconditions. Taken together, these results showed that PoWRKY1 enhances the tolerance to cold and drought stresses. This study lays a potential foundation to understand the molecular mechanism of tolerance to abiotic stress in P. odoratum.

Research on the Progress of Systematic Taxonomy in the Genus <i>Asparagus</i> of China

Garden asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis L.) is a kind of nutritious and healthy vegetable with important economic value in the world. China has become the largest production country of garden asparagus in the world. But the seeds mainly depend on import, so we need to innovate breeding system and improve the international competitiveness of domestic asparagus varieties. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the genetic variation of garden asparagus was low and its heterosis was weak among cultivars. Inter-specific hybridization is an important means to utilize heterosis, but the relationship between the classical taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of the genus Asparagus is disordered, which limits the development of interspecific hybridization breeding. In this genus, thirty-one species have been found in China, which is an effective genetic resource for the utilization of heterosis among Asparagus species. In order to provide reference for the next step to clarify the phylogenetic relationship of this genus and to carry out the interspecific hybrid breeding of garden asparagus in the near future, the research progress of its classical and molecular phylogeny of this genus is reviewed in this study.

Zebeeba falsalis (Herrich-Schäffer, 1839) (Erebidae, Rivulinae) magyarországi előfordulása

Zebeeba falsalis (Herrich-Schäffer, 1839) has a Mediterranean distribution. In Hungary it was not recorded until 2020. One male specimen was attracted to light on Zöld-hegy near Csákvár in the Vértes Mountains. This species feeds on Asparagus plants, mainly on Asparagus acutifolius in the Mediterranean region. Presumably, its host plant in Hungary is Asparagus officinalis. Its occurrence is due to the climatic changes in recent years.

Carici supinae–Betuletea pendulae — новый класс лесной растительности в степной зоне Западно-Сибирской равнины и Зауралья

Carici supinae–Betuletea pendulae — новый класс лесной растительности в степной зоне Западно-Сибирской равнины и Зауралья

Synthetic seed technology for encapsulation and regrowth of in vitro-derived shoot-tips and somatic embryos of Asparagus officinalis L

Apical buds obtained from Asparagus plant vitro culture and somatic embryos obtained from stem cultivation, explants in MS medium supplemented with mg¹ᶫ 1, 2, 4-D and mg¹ᶫ 1 and Kinetin have been used in this research to produce artificial seeds. We encapsulated apical buds and somatic embryo using 2% sodium alginate and calcium chloride to prepare the artificial seeds. We placed artificial seeds at room temperature (about 25 ° C), in the cold, the temperature of 4 ° C and -18 ° C for different times (15,30,60,90 days) and evaluated the growing power of these seeds in MS and ½MS mediums for further investigations about the viability of seeds. The highest conversion percentage of seedlings in encapsulated embryos (70.01) was related to seed harvested from embryos treated with BA and the highest conversion percentage of seedlings in apical buds (96.54) was obtained from cultivated untreated seeds in MS medium. Encapsulated arteries and buds maintained germination energy and viability with increasing storage time after 90 days of storage at 4 and 25 ° C despite viability reduction while un-capsulated embryos and buds completely lost viability after 60 days of storage at 4 and 25 ° C and seeds stored at -18 ° C completely lost viability after 15 days of storage. In general, the percentage of seed germination and conversion to seedling is higher in seeds cultivated in MS medium compared to seeds cultivated in ½MS medium.