Researchers want to make asparagus resistant to widespread virus

German asparagus is to be saved from virus

Most Germans love asparagus. The noble vegetables are not only delicious, but also very healthy. Research has shown, however, that the popular vegetable in all growing regions in Germany is infected with a virus. Researchers now want to help breeders to breed resistant asparagus.

Most Germans love asparagus

Already weeks ago the asparagus season started in Germany. Among the German citizens, the noble vegetables are extremely popular. It is not only delicious, but also healthy. The white and green asparagus spears score among others with their high vitamin C content. In addition, they are low in calories and stimulate the metabolism. Unfortunately, the local barbecued vegetables are in danger. According to experts, asparagus is infected with a virus in all German growing regions. Researchers now want to make the vegetables resistant.

In all German growing regions asparagus plants are infected with a virus that robs the vegetables of the forces. Researchers now want to make the plants resistant to it. (Image: karepa / fotolia.com)

Good for digestion

There are many reasons why the super-vegetables are so healthy: asparagus is ascribed a positive effect on the nervous system, cell growth (skin, hair) and digestion.

In addition, the vegetables contain a variety of valuable vitamins (A, C, B1, B2 and E) as well as minerals and trace elements (iron, calcium, potassium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc).

Health experts, for example, recommend the most delicious vegetables for constipation, gallbladder and liver problems, diabetes or bladder problems.

It would therefore be more than a pity if the delicious bars were no longer sufficiently available. But the local asparagus is threatened.

Make asparagus plants resistant to virus

As the news agency dpa reports, scientists from the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) in Quedlinburg want to make asparagus plants resistant to a virus that robs them of their power.

Breeding researcher Thomas Nothnagel explained that nationwide monitoring in Germany had shown that asparagus from all growing regions was infected.

The invisible virus is transmitted by aphids, but also in asparagus piercing.

According to the information, the root growth of the plants is reduced. In addition, the spectrum of ingredients would change and the bars would be thinner.

According to the biologist sink also the yields.

Many years will pass before plants grow in this country

The researchers now want to cross resistant wild asparagus from southern Europe and South Africa with the cultural asparagus, in order to make this also insensitive to the virus.

"We have the hope to get the first prototype of a virus-resistant asparagus line this year," said Nothnagel dpa.

Then the experts of the JKI want to pass on their scientific results to professional breeders, who bring the resistant plants to market as new varieties.

According to Nothnagel, however, approval by the Bundessortenamt is still required.

He estimates that it could take at least another six to seven years for the resilient plants to grow in the fields.

Resistances transferred to cultural asparagus

As the agency report states, the JKI, as a Federal Research Center for Cultivated Plants, undertakes lengthy and complicated research and makes the results available to practitioners.

According to Nothnagel, the researchers began with the project on resistant asparagus some ten years ago.

In the preliminary work, it was initially a matter to collect collections of wild asparagus and to test for interesting breeding characteristics. Subsequently, he looked for ways to transfer the resistance to the cultural asparagus.

For about five years scientists are busy with the crossing program.

With the new asparagus breeding line, breeding researcher Nothnagel also hopes for further successes, for example in the fight against fungi, which destroy the asparagus and destroy its roots. (Ad)