Effect of Harvest Duration on Yield and on Depletion of Storage Carbohydrates in Asparagus Roots1

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Abstract
Harvesting a young planting of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) for 4 or 6 weeks the second year after transplanting 1-year-old crowns, followed by harvesting for 8 or 10 weeks the third year, reduced yields significantly the fourth year. Carbohydrate levels in asparagus storage roots decreased during harvest and continued to decrease after harvest during fern production. Carbohydrate levels increased in storage roots after stalks had matured, and were restored to preharvest levels by mid- to late summer. All treatments possessed comparable levels of storage carbohydrates by the end of the season. Asparagus storage carbohydrates were identified as fructose-oligosaccharides, which varied considerably in size, mobility, and percent fructose and glucose. The largest oligosaccharides were composed of ∼ 90% fructose, ∼ 10% glucose; molecular weights did not exceed 4,000.

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