Abstract
This invention is a new and distinctive female asparagus plant called FCE4.
Claims
1. A new and distinct female asparagus plant having the characteristics essentially as described and illustrated herein.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 provides an illustration of a typical stalk from an asparagus plant. The Figure illustrates the relative positions on the plant and the source of the data presented below. References are made with the use of brackets and letters, the same letters which are also listed in parentheses under the stalk data.
(2) FIG. 2 shows typical foliage of FCE4. The photograph depicts a four year old FCE4 plant in a greenhouse at Riverside, Calif.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(3) Pedigree FCE4 was selected as a single plant in 1999 from a cross between female asparagus clone F109 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,677) and male asparagus clone EC2 (unpatented) and propagated by tissue culture. FCE4 was first asexually produced in May 2008 in Riverside, Calif., USA. FCE4 was selected based on plant vigor, height to the first branch, and its ability to produce a large number of high quality spears. These three selection criteria were applied to 242 plants from the population produced from the cross, F109 x EC2. The combination of all three criteria allowed FCE4 to stand out as a clone for selection and further testing as a parent.
(4) FCE4 has a larger spear diameter compared to either the female parent F109 or male parent EC2; and a greater distance between nodes when compared to either parent. The height to the first branch is also greater for FCE4 compared to either F109 or EC2. FCE4 was first asexually produced in May 2008 in Riverside, Calif., USA.
(5) Cultivation FCE4 can be clonally propagated by crown division. The distinguishing characteristics of FCE4 are stable and reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction in Riverside, Calif., USA, and in test trials in San Gerardo, Chile. FCE4 is usually grown in isolated plantings of clonally propagated plants along with a male clone to produce F1 seeds. Recommended cultural practices for FCE4 are similar to those of other asparagus plantings for seed production. Plantings can be established using 8-week old seedling transplants or 1-year-old crowns. Performance can be good on soils with low (Riverside, Calif.) or high (Delta regions of California) organic content. Rust and asparagus aphid should be controlled with spray regimes.
(6) FCE4 emerges in the spring earlier than most other asparagus clones it has been grown with. Plant characteristics: The attached photograph, FIG. 1, illustrates the relative positions on the plant and the source of the data presented below. References are made with the use of brackets and letters, the same letters which are also listed in parentheses under the stalk data. Typical foliage of FCE4 is shown in FIG. 2. The plant observed for the detailed botanical description was approximately 8 months old and growing in a greenhouse with full sunlight and daytime temperatures below 85 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant was in a 8.25 in.9 in. diameter pot filled with soil that was approximately 50% sand, 50% peat moss. The following measurements were obtained from the longest stalk and are the mean value of measurements on five separate clones unless otherwise indicated. The colors presented below refer to colors in The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (2001) and are the most common colors observed among the plants measured. Stalk description: Number of nodes below the first branch (A).22.2. Number of cm from crown to the first branch (B).37. Number of branches (C).36.2. Number of cm between first and last branch (D).43.9. Internode length in cm between branches (D/(C-1)).1.25. Number of cladophyll nodes beyond the last branch (E).28.0. Number of cm beyond the last branch (F).7.9. Internode length in cm beyond the last branch (F/(E-1)).0.29. Largest stalk diameter in mm.9.86. Mean diameter of three largest stalks in mm.9.83. Number of stalks.7.0. Stalk vigor index (stalk number)(mean diameter).sup.2.674.08. Mature stalk color, bloom removed.144B. Flower description: Tepal tip color (four plants).Green-yellow 1D. Tepal apex outer surface margin color.Green-yellow 1D. Tepal apex inner surface margin color.Green-yellow 1D. Tepal apex outer surface middle.Yellow-green 146C. Tepal apex inner surface middle.Yellow-green 146C. Tepal base outer surface.Yellow-green 146C. Tepal base outer surface middle.Yellow-green 146C. Tepal base inner surface middle.Yellow-green 146C. Tepal number and configuration.Six in number, imbricate in two whorls forming campanulate corolla at anthesis, syntepalous for lower 1 mm, with separate tepals above. Tepal shape.Elliptical, but slightly wider toward apex. Tepal base.Cuneate, margin entire. Flower length in mm.4.33. Flower width at midpoint in mm.1.98. Flowers typically in leaf axils, solitary or in pairs. Sepals.The perianth of FCE4 consists of tepals, sepals, and petals, which are indistinguishable from each other. Cladophyll description: Number per node.5.4. Length in mm.19.92. Width in mm.0.22. Shape.Linear, filiform, needle-like, round in cross. Base.Cuneate, margin entire. Adaxial surface color.Green 137B. Abaxial surface color.Green 137B. Bract (true leaf) description: Rudimentary, scale-like, triangular, membranous near margin. Small appendage hanging from idle of dorsal side closest to stem. Entire margins, acute apex. Length.12.0 mm, Width: 6.4 mm. Attitude of bracts.Closely adpessed. Peduncle: Length.13.8 mm. Diameter.0.3 mm; 0.5 mm diameter joint between to of the length form the axil. Color.Yellow-green 146A. Female reproductive organs: Gynoecium.Fused, single styled. Tricarpellate with visible longitudinal sutures along ovary and style. Ovary sessile, obovate, 2.0 mm long, 1.5 mm wide at anthesis. Ovule number, shape.Six, circular. Ovary color.Yellow-green 144A. Style.Tripartite, fused into one, filiform, 1.3 mm; 0.2 mm wide at midpoint. Papillate on adaxial surface, recurved to horizontal. Color: Green-white 157D. Stigma.Lobed, trifid 0.6 mm side. Color: Green-white 157D. Fruit description: Shape and texture.Round, smooth, fleshy with walls forming three locules, each locule containing up to 2 seeds. Size of berry.6-10 mm in width. Color (ripe fruit).Orange-red 32A.
