ASPARAGUS - VARIATION AMONGST PLANTS IN SUSCEPTIBILITY TO THE POSTHARVEST DISORDER, TIP BREAKDOWN

Tip breakdown is a serious postharvest disorder of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) which can result in severe wastage and quality loss; We report significant variation amongst plants in their susceptibility to this disorder. This variation may be genetic in origin, but the results presented are equivocal on this. Plants with low levels of tip breakdown had higher levels of soluble carbohydrate in spear tips than plants susceptible to the disorder. Protein levels and postharvest accumulation of ammonia were not significantly different in plants with low levels of tip breakdown compared to plants with high levels. The possibilities for selecting resistant plants are discussed.