- New Asparagus Variety
in California to be Released
- By Karen Gentry
Managing Editor
- The first new asparagus release from the University of California (UC) -Riverside may come as early as 2005. Out of many varieties tested by university researchers, UC115 has shown the most promise, according to Neil Stone, one of the researchers from the Botany and Plant Sciences Department from UC-Riverside.
UC115 is a high yielding variety with good speer quality, said Stone. Led by Dr. Mikeal Roose, a professor of genetics in Botany and Plant Sciences, researchers have been testing UC115 for more than 10 years.
UC115 was originally among the observation varieties on a very small plot that was planted but not yet evaluated, Stone said. Out of approximately 100 varieties studied, UC115 showed the most promise. Its yields are higher than two varieties patented by the university, UC157 released in the late 1970s and Ida Lea, released in the early 1980s.
Stone said the new variety will be renamed. The name “DePaoli” is being considered, after a Bill DePaoli, former president of the California Asparagus Commission, who died in 1999.
Tests of the new variety varied in different parts of California, but it always outperformed UC157. Promising data about UC115 based on research results in the San Joaquin Valley were presented to growers at an asparagus meeting in Stockton, Calif. in December, Stone said. This research is led by Bob Mullen, a farm advisor with UC Cooperative Extension.
Trials of the new variety are also now being tried in large trials. “Growers are interested in seeing these results,” said Stone.
The asparagus research is funded by the California Asparagus Commission. The commission has funded nearly $1 million in research in the last 10 years, according to Chere Watte, director of the commission. She said the commission funds $70,000 annually in asparagus variety research by UC-Riverside. Approximately 130 growers who grow fresh asparagus in California, are assessed $.0062 per pound to fund the commission’s activities.
