Variability of Economic Traits of 28 Cultivars of Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)

The research which aim was to characterise variability of economic traits of 28 asparagus cultivars was carried out in the Marcelin Experiment Station in the years 2004-2008. Variability of total and marketable yields, the mean weight of green spears as well as plant survival of all the 28 cultivars and separately of nine German and Dutch cultivars was evaluated. In addition, variability between harvest years of individual cultivars for total and marketable yields, mean spear weight in five and spear thickness in three selected harvest years was characterised.

Variability between cultivars was found greater with respect to marketable and total yields expressed in the weight of harvested spears and smaller with respect to mean spear weight and total yield expressed in the number of harvested spears. Less productive cultivars exhibited the least consistent yields between individual harvest years and the worst plant survival. Higher yield consistency, mean spear weight and plant survival were observed in the group of German and Dutch cultivars.