Callus growth and plant regeneration from long-term callus cultures were studied in two elite clones of Asparagus officinalis cv. Argenteuil, to establish a suitable protocol for a prospective in vitro selection program. Callus initiation and growth was evaluated on MS medium with 3% sucrose, 0.9% agar, 1 mg x l(-1) kinetin, and three levels of 2,4-D. The highest callus relative growth was obta...

The development of new asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) cultivars has been hindered by the lack genetic diversity in crop. current study aims at generating novel plant material to widen base crop using CWR (crop wild relatives). We have developed a hexaploid population about 1000 plants with introgressions four polyploid species (A. maritimus, A. pseudoscaber, brachyphyllus and macrorrhizus...

This study investigated the in vivo effect of Diosgenin, isolated from Asparagus officinalis, on the total quantity of Cytochrome P450, the activity of some enzymes Ethylmorphine N-demethylase (marker for CYP3A) and Aniline Hydroxylase (marker for CYP2E1), the quantity of malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione compared to Phenobarbital in rats. Diosgenin and Phenobarbital, administered alone, ...

A full-length cDNA clone (plIP27) encoding asparagine synthetase (AS; EC 6.3.5.4) was isolated from a cDNA library prepared from the tip section (apex to 30 mm) of Asparagus officinalis L. spears. The cDNA clone encodes an mRNA of 1978 bp, giving a derived protein of 66.5 kD molecular mass. l h e derived amino acid sequence is 81% homologous to AS from fisum safivum. Only low levels of transcri...