Daily elongation and height of spear opening of twenty-eight asparagus genotypes

Abstract

During the 1992, 1993, and 1994 harvest seasons, the daily spear elongation of 28 asparagus genotypes was measured. Together with these measurements the degree of opening of the head of the spears was evaluated, determining, through a regression analysis, the height at which the head of the spears would start opening. There were important differences between genotypes. The most cultivated in Chile (UC 157 and UC 72), opened their heads at higher heights than others that were created for harvesting white spears, such as Aneto, Cito, Larac, and Argenteuil. Daily average elongations were of 5.58 cm at 15.5 °C, of 7.41 cm at 16.6 °C and of 7.73 cm at 19.8 °C of daily mean temperature. A raise in the mean temperature traduced itself in a greater daily elongation and in a higher total yield, but in a lower height at which the heads of the spears started to open.