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Effects of Shade Treatment on Plant Growth Characteristics, Phenolic Contents, and Antioxidant Activities of All-Male Cultivars of Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: This study examined the effects of 30% and 70% shading on the growth characteristics, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity of three male cultivars (Atticus, Avalim, and Herkolim) of asparagus grown in a rain-shelter house.The 70% shading treatment significantly increased the shoot elongation rate of all three male cultivars compared with the control and 30% shade treatments.Compared with the control treatment, 30% shading increased the shoot production rate and bud number of the Atticus and Avalim cultivars.Most of the plant growth characteristics of the Herkolim cultivar were not affected by the 30% shade treatment, except root diameter.Polyphenol contents in all three cultivars were significantly decreased under the 30% shade treatment compared with that in the plants under the control and 70% shade treatments.The Atticus cultivar had a higher polyphenol content than that in the Avalim and Herkolim cultivars under shade treatments.The flavonoid contents in Atticus and Avalim plants under the 30% shade treatment were lower than that in plants under the control treatment.Compared with the control treatment, the 30% shade treatment significantly decreased antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase as well as the 2,2'-azino-bis3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) free-radical scavenging activity of Atticus and Herkolim.Under the 30% shade treatment, the polyphenol and flavonoid contents in the Atticus cultivar were significantly higher than those in the Avalim cultivar.The results suggest that the 30% shade treatment can be applied in the cultivation of the Atticus cultivar to improve spear production in the following season and minimize decreases in phenolic content.

Source: Horticultural Science and Technology

DOI: 10.7235/hort.20220026