Sex Modification in Asparagus officinalis L.1

Abstract

Abstract Treatment of spears of pistillate asparagus (XX) with 5000 mg/liter gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) plus 1000 mg/liter 6-benzyl-amino-9-(tetrahydro-2-pyryl)-purine (PBA) or 2000 and 5000 mg/liter GA 3 alone induced development of stamens with sterile anthers. Spears of XY staminate genotype treated with 10 mg/liter PBA or PBA plus 50 g/liter glucose had more hermaphroditic flowers with ovules than untreated flowers; seedless fruits developed after pollination. YY staminate genotype developed pistils with styles following treatment of spears with 100 mg/liter PBA or PBA plus 50 g/liter glucose. Some ovules had well developed integuments and chalaza but no embryo sacs. PBA reduced stamen length and increased anther sterility.