Evaluation of Asparagus officinalis Cultivars for Resistance to Stem Blight by Using a Novel Inoculation Method

Abstract

Asparagus officinalis L. cultivars were evaluated for resistance to asparagus stem blight caused by Phomopsis asparagi (Sacc.) Bubák under controlled environmental conditions. The plants were inoculated with the vinyl tube and cotton inoculation method. Disease severity assessments, based on the percentage of diseased plants and the disease index, were made 4 weeks after inoculation. Estimates of the percentage of diseased plants ranged from 33% to 80%, and the disease index ranged from 28 to 79. None of the cultivars and lines showed high resistance, but there were significant differences in disease susceptibility among the cultivars and lines.