Page 184 - Zbornik_Konf_2019

https://doi.org/10.15414/2019.9788055220703

4 International Scientific Conference Abstracts Book
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FORGOTTEN OR PROMISING: THE POPULARITY OF ASPARAGUS IS ON THE INCREASE

Olena Nochvina, Nataliya Mizerna
Ukrainian Institute for Plant Variety Examination Kyiv, Ukraine;
E-mail.: elena.mikoljuk@gmail.com
The modern variety of rare vegetable crops is very diverse in terms of taste, the content
of biologically active nutrients, colour, and form of consumption. Among them are amaranth
(Amaranthus L.), artichoke (Cynara L.), bamia (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench), sweet
potato (Ipomoea batatas (L). Lam.), vigna (Vigna Savi), lagenaria (Lagenaria Ser.), Jerusalem
artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.), fennel (Foeniculum Mill.), edible chrysanthemum
(Chrysanthemum coronarium L.), citronella (Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle) and garden
asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.).
Asparagus officinalis is included to the group of Agricultural: Vegetables of the State
Register of Plant Varieties Suitable for Distribution in Ukraine and, as of 2019, it is presented
by three cultivars of the Dutch breeding: Baklim, Ginlim and Grolim. ‘Ginlim’ has been
registered in Holland since 1983 and is the most widespread in the National Registers of
Europe. The peculiarity of this variety is that it may be grown as both white and green
asparagus. It is a 100 % male hybrid. Its harvesting can continue from mid-April to mid-June.
The review of the National Registries of Europe shows that Holland is the leader with 30
cultivars, France has 17 cultivars, Italy 14, Germany 14, Spain and Poland 2 cultivars. In total,
there are more than 300 cultivars of asparagus in the world.
Asparagus is much more popular in Europe than in Ukraine. The area under this crop in
the EU is about 63 thousand hectares; production quantity is 250 thousand tons per year.
Despite this, asparagus lacks in Europe and its import grows by 12−15 % annually. The main
countries importing asparagus to Europe are China, Peru, and the USA.
In Europe, cultivation of asparagus is concentrated mainly in Germany (about 23000
hectares), Spain (14000 hectares) and Italy (11000 hectares). As for the gross collection,
Germany is the leading producer with production quantity more than 133000 tons (90 % of
white asparagus and 10 % green), Spain produces more than 60000 tons and Italy about
50000 tons. Other European countries have somewhat lower indicators: France and the
Netherlands produce about 20000 tons, Poland and Greece increased production and
approached 10000 tons.
Asparagus is not popular with the Slovaks, as well as with the Ukrainians. The first
reason is that this is not a traditional vegetable, and the second reason is financial: the price
per kilogram exceeds 6 euros in the business network. According to expert estimates,
Ukrainians today grow asparagus on about 70−80 hectares, while commercial projects
account for 30−36 hectares; however, these are rather small indicators compared with the
European and world scale.
The replenishment of the State Register of Plant Varieties, Suitable for Distribution in
Ukraine with new high-yielding varieties of asparagus and the increase in the cultivation area
could help to transfer this crop from the standpoint of ‘forgotten’ or ‘promising’ to another
level, that is widespread, popular, accessible, national, and Ukrainian.

Keywords: Asparagus officinalis L., cultivars, demand, register.

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September 11–13, 2019