• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.141-145
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two male cultivars of asparagus with low different chilling periods on bud breaking, relative spear growth rate, shoot number and yield. Four-month-old plants of two male cultivars of asparagus were dried to impose dormancy and placed in a coldroom at $5^{\circ}C$ to satisfy the chilling requirement for 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks. After the specified chilling time, the pots were placed in greenhouse. The results showed that mean days to bud break of 'Jersey Giant' significantly decreased with an increasing chilling period from 0 to 6 weeks, but 'Jersey Supreme' was not affected. The relative spear growth rate of 'Jersey Supreme' was significantly stimulated by chilling compared to non-chilled plants. Shoot production and total spear weight of 'Jersey Supreme' tended to be greater than 'Jersey Giant' irrespective of chilling treatments. Following low temperature treatment, 'Jersey Supreme' showed shorter dormant period than 'Jersey Giant', faster growth of spear. The present study showed that asparagus male cultivar at duration of chilling treatment had an affirmative effect on bud breaking, spear growth rates, shoot number and yield of asparagus.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.796-804
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• 2015

The present study investigated the plant growth characteristics, dormancy breaking, yield, and biological activity properties (contents of flavonoid and phenolic compounds, nitrite scavenging activity, and the survival rate of lung cancer) of four asparagus cultivars. It aimed to examine selection possibilities for high efficacy cultivar to promote biological activity in asparagus cultivation in South Korea. The results showed that the number of asparagus buds and root fresh and dry weight of 'Jersey Giant', 'Jersey Supreme', and 'NJ953' were higher than those of 'UC157' cultivar, and there were no differences in the number of roots. The dormancy breaking period of 'Jersey Supreme' was prolonged compared to the other cultivars. 'Jersey Giant' and 'NJ953' had more total spears, and greater spear diameter, and yield than other cultivars. Total flavonoid content was unaffected by cultivar and was higher in ethanol extraction than in hot water extraction. Total phenolic compound content was the lowest in 'NJ953' for both hot water and ethanol extracts, whereas in the ethanol extraction, 'UC157' had the highest, with $39.23mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. 'Jersey Giant', 'Jersey Supreme', and 'NJ953' all showed greater than 70% nitrite scavenging activity. In the case of ethanol extraction, the survival rates of lung cancer in extracts from 'Jersey Giant', 'Jersey Supreme', and 'UC157' were lower than 'NJ 953' cultivar, regardless of extraction concentration. The survival rate of lung cancer was lower in hot water extraction than in ethanol extraction, so that the consumption of asparagus is also expected to be helpful in preventing lung cancer. The growth characteristics and biological activity effects of edible asparagus that were identified in the present study are expected to be useful in selection of high efficacy cultivars for biological activity and utilization.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.495-503
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• 2016

In the present study, we investigated the plant growth characteristics and biological activity of four asparagus cultivars grown using two cultural methods and tested the possibility of domestic open field. The number of shoots, buds, roots, shoot and root fresh and dry weights, and total dry weight of the four asparagus cultivars grown in a plastic house were higher than those of the same cultivars grown in an open field. Of the cultivars grown in the open field, Jersey Giant had greater shoot number than the other cultivars. In plastic house cultivation, the number of buds in Jersey Supreme was greater than the other cultivars. The total flavonoid content of the Jersey Giant was greater than the other cultivars, but cultural method was unaffected. The total polyphenol contents in asparagus cultivars grown in the plastic house were higher than those of cultivars grown in the open field. The total polyphenol content of the Jersey Giant grown the plastic house was significantly higher than those of other cultivars. Antioxidant activity such as catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) did not differ significantly with cultural methods and among the cultivars. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity of asparagus cultivars grown in the open field was higher than that of cultivars grown in the greenhouse; the highest APX activity was detected in UC157. Thus, greenhouse cultivation is expected to improve plant growth characteristics and biological activities of asparagus cultivars; each cultural method should be considered when selecting a suitable cultivar for high yield and high bioactive compound content.