Patent Application
20070266465
None
The Latin name is Asparagus officinalis.
The varietal denomination is ‘NJ44P’.
For an asparagus plant to be commercially viable and profitable, good yield is essential. It is well known that asparagus is susceptible to a number of diseases. Among the most devastating are rust caused by Puccinia asparagi d.c., (Kahn et al. 1952), crown rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum and root rot caused by f. Proliferatum (syn=f. Moniliforme) (Johnston et al., 1979; Guerrero et al., 1999). Of course, the presence of these diseases adversely impacts the yields and therefore the profitability of the product. Accordingly, resistance to these diseases is essential to commercial success.
This invention relates to a new and distinct asparagus plant designated as ‘NJ44P’. Plant ‘NJ44P’ possesses several desirable traits including vigorous growth habit, higher yield, resistance to rust (Puccinia asparagi), and good field tolerance to root and crown rot (Fusarium oxysporum) and (Fusarium moniliforme).
The color notations have been selected from observations as compared with the Munsell Limit Color Cascade, Munsell Color. Colors are approximate as color depends on density of growth, horticultural practices, such as light level, fertilization rate, and other conditions and, therefore, the color characteristics of this new variety should be determined with reference to the observations described herein, rather than from this illustration alone. Furthermore, the coloration is not considered to be a distinguishing feature of this new variety.
An extensive program of asparagus plant development, carried out in a cultivated area in the vicinity of Bridgeton, and New Brunswick, N.J., has resulted in the development of a female asparagus plant ‘NJ44P’ with many desirable traits, which are transmissible to its progenies. ‘NJ44P’ was selected from a production field of “Mary Washington” asparagus located in southern New Jersey. The instant plant reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction was initiated via meristem culture and subsequently by clonal division in a laboratory in New Brunswick, N.J. The ‘NJ44P’ plant described herein was located at a trial field in Bridgeton, N.J. The data shown herein was collected when the plant was four years old.
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis Linn.) is a dioecious species with individual plants being either male or female in sex. The ‘cultivars’ of asparagus today are morphologically similar but differ in local adaptation, yield, disease resistance, and longevity. Desirable cultivars are developed by crossing of elite male and female parents. Both male and female parents transmit traits such as disease resistance, yield, and spear morphology to their progenies. Disease resistance of the kind found in the ‘NJ44P’ plant and its progenies will allow growers to plant hybrids where rust and Fusarium now prevent profitable culture of susceptible varieties.
Asparagus can be clonally propagated by crown division. Crown is the structure where shoots and roots join together. Division or separation at the crown area will allow the propagation of asparagus. When propagated by crown division, successive generations of ‘NJ44P’ have similar morphological appearance and possess the same desirable characteristics as the original ‘NJ44P’ plant.
Asparagus can also be clonally propagated by tissue culture. An asparagus shoot tip or meristem when cultured on appropriate nutrient medium and appropriate conditions can grow, develop, and regenerate into a plant. Also, asparagus plant parts such as a spear segment when cultured on appropriate nutrient medium and appropriate conditions can grow, develop, and regenerate into an asparagus plant. Such plant can be efficiently divided and multiplied in appropriate nutrient medium. A ‘NJ44P’ plant propagated by such tissue culture has been found to retain the same desirable characteristics as the original ‘NJ44P’ plant.
When crossed with different male plants, asparagus ‘NJ44P’ can transmit many of its desirable traits including vigorous growth habit, higher yield, resistance to rust (Puccinia asparagi), and good field tolerance to root and crown rot (Fusarium oxysporum) and (Fusarium moniliforme) to its progenies.
The following table shows that in yield and disease resistance the progenies of ‘NJ44P’ compare very favorably to Jersey Giant (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,55 1) and Jersey Knight (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,624), two of most popular asparagus varieties in the world today.
Rust resistance: 0: no resistance, 10: complete resistance
Data that distinguishes asparagus plant ‘NJ44P’ from other asparagus varieties that have been internally developed, as well as asparagus plants that are known and available commercially in the markets have been accumulated and are presented below.
The data (averages from 3 clones) are assembled in the following table: ASPARAGUS PLANT: ‘NJ44P’
This application is related to the copending plant patent application Ser. No. 11/431,329 entitled HOMOZYGOUS MALE ASPARAGUS PLANT NJ 22-34, which is owned by the assignee of the present invention and is filed currently herewith.
