Evaluation of Asparagus Species for resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi and F. moniliforme

Abstract

“Asparagus decline” decreases production and kills Asparagus officinalis L. The principal pathogens involved in the decline are considered to be Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi Cohen and Heald (FOA) and F. moniliforme (Sheld.) emend. Synder and Hans. (FM). Three- to four-month-old plants of A. officinalis and three other asparagus species were inoculated in the greenhouse and evaluated for resistance to these Fusarium spp. Of the 90 A. officinalis accessions evaluated, two all-male cultivars, Lucullus 234 and 328, received the lowest disease ratings to FOA and FM. Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ and ‘Myersii’ received the lowest disease ratings of the other asparagus species tested. Of the total 95 germplasm entries evaluated, 39% were more resistant than the susceptible control ‘UC 157’, 44% were rated similiar in susceptibility, and 17% were more susceptible. Accessions responded similiarly to both Fusarium spp.