Effects of Cultivar and Harvest Season on Rupture Stress and Rutin Content and Their Changes after Harvest of Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) Cultivated Using the Long-term Harvest Production System

Abstract

　We investigated the effects of cultivars and harvest season on the rupture stress and rutin content of open-cultured asparagus by using 4 cultivars that were 6 years old: 'UC157,' 'NJ953,' 'Gijnlim,' and 'Purple Passion.' From the results of the rupture stress test, we found that 'UC157' could easily be hardened during 7-day storage throughout the harvest seasons. 'NJ953' and 'Gijnlim' also showed the tendency to harden during storage in autumn. In 'UC157,' 'NJ953,' and 'Gijnlim,' rutin contents in spring were higher than those in summer or autumn. Among the cultivars, 'Purple Passion' had the highest rutin content from summer to autumn. These results suggested that rupture stress and rutin content and their changes after harvest were affected by cultivar and/or harvest season.