Research

• Asparagus
  • Breeding All-Male Hybrids

    The University of Guelph Asparagus Breeding Program was initiated in 1979 to develop all-male hybrids adapted to Canadian growing conditions.  Two hybrids, Guelph Millennium and Tiessen, have been released.  Breeding continues to develop improved cultivars for yield, quality and disease resistance.   (Asparagus Data)

  • Production Practices

    Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) can enhance plant responses under stress conditions through several mechanisms.  We are investigating the potential of bacterial strains that produce IAA and ACC deaminase to enhance seed germination and seedling vigor, and growth of transplanted aspargus crowns under stressed conditions.

  • Senesence and Winter-Hardiness

    Asparagus cultivars in Ontario vary for patterns of senesence; fern of some hybrids lose chlorophyll and appear yellow before the first killing frost, while others remain green untill freezing.  We are studying physiological paramerters related to senesence and dormancy and investigating relationships between senescence and winterhardiness.

Publications

• Petaloid Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Carrot

  Cytoplasmic male sterility in carrot occurs as petaloidy, where stamens are replaced by petals, or both stamens and petals are replaced by green bract-like organs. This research program focuses on understanding the molecular basis of how a cytoplasmic factor alters fundamental processes of floral development.

  Publications