Evaluation of Asparagus adscendens accessions for root yield and shatavarin IV content in India

Authors: PARMESHWAR LAL SARAN, SUSHEEL SINGH, VANRAJSINH SOLANKI, RAVISH CHOUDHARY, PONNUCHAMY MANIVEL

Abstract: The study was carried out to evaluate fifty-six accessions/species suitable for industrial purpose. Understanding the bioactive compound diversity among both the shatavari species, Asparagus racemosus (AR) and A. adscendens (AA) are an important species for crop development. Sufficient variation for bioactive compounds (shatavarin IV) were registered in both the species. AR and AA confined average 22.84 μg g^-1 and 117.74 μg g^-1 shatavarin IV, respectively. The A. adscendens produced about five-folds higher shatavarin IV content as compared to A. racemosus. Wide variation for shatavarin IV content were also observed within the AA accessions. Successful restoration of such species depends upon variability available within the species for crop improvement. Twelve elite accessions were evaluated for quantitive and qualitative traits. The morphological parameters such as cladode, spike, internodal space and root weight play an important role as a trade and industrial characters. The evaluated accessions varied in herbage, root yield and shatavarin IV content. The accession DAA-28 had the highest fresh weight of rootlet, root length and shatavarin IV content. Simultaneously, root girth and root yield were recorded maximum in accession DAA-41. In both the years, DAA-41, DAA-44, DAA-28 and DAA-32 were found superior, therefore, they may be used in diverse parental combination for enhancing genetic gain in varietal selection, advancement and release of varieties.

Keywords: Asparagus adscendens, Asparagus racemosus, variability, root yield, shatavarin IV, species

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