Synonym are X. violaceum Schott., Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott
Common names are Indian Spinach, Ceylon Spinach, Gambian Spinach, Vine Spinach, Malabar Nightshade, Malabar Spinach (Eng.); BaseIle, Brede de Malabar (Fr.); Espinaca (variedad de), Espinaca de Ceilan (Sp.); Malabarspinat (Ger.); Poi (Ind.); Alugbati, Grana (Philipp.); Remayong (Mal.); Gendola (Indon.); Bretaila, Libato, AceIca Trepadora (W.I.).
Cultivars are by local farmers in Europe and Asia .
Indigenous to southern Europe and Asia, probably derived from B. vulgaris subsp. maritima L. Thell. (Wild Sea Beet), now fairly widely distributed in the tropics.
Cultivated, to a limited extent, in the Caribbean, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Central, East and West Africa.
A biennial glabrous herb, normally grown as an annual. Roots: including hypocotyl, rounded or tapering, red, enlarged with food reserves. Stems: conical, condensed above hypocotyl. Leaves: in rosettes, dark red or green, ovate or cordate. Inflorescence: of 3-4 flowered cymes, on spikes up to 120 cm in height, formed in the second year of growth if the environmental conditions are favourable. Flowers: perianth of 5 segments; stamens 5; stigmas 3. Fruits: an aggregate, formed by the cohesion of 2 or more fruits. The calyx continues to grow after fertilization, becoming woody and enclosing the seed. Seeds: small, kidney-shaped, brown; weight of 1000 seeds = 16 g.
Most cultivars are tolerant to a wide range of soil conditions and grow well in moist fertile soils well supplied with organic material and essential elements. Supplementary applications of nitrogen are often advantageous during the early period of growth. Well adapted to high temperature conditions, low temperatures are liable to reduce the growth rate and lead to the production of relatively small leaves. Plants are normally tolerant to high levels of rainfall but some cultivars have a degree of drought resistance. Irrigation is required during dry periods to maintain a high rate of leaf production. Water stress is likely to encourage early flowering. Growth is likely to be limited at altitudes greater than SOO m, due to diurnal temperature variations. Normally a short-day plant, Basella responds to light shading by the production of larger leaves than develop under full exposure to sun. Flowering does not occur in day lengths longer than 13 hours. Basella is one of the tropical crops which has a C4 -cycle photosynthetic pathway.
Propagation and planting Propagation is by seed, preferably monogerm or rubbed (divided). Seeds are sown in drills 25-30 cm apart, at a depth of 1-2 cm, seedlings being subsequently thinned to 10 cm apart in the rows. Transplants are rarely successful. The quantity of seed required per hectare varies from 10-20 kg. On a commercial scale, one million plants per hectare are established. Irrigation: This may be required during early stages of growth and during subsequent dry periods. Excessive soil water may produce deformed roots and irregular irrigation may induce cracking of the roots.
Harvesting of the young shoots may normally begin 55-70 days from trans- planting, continuing at regular intervals for approximately six months. The shoots removed are normally 15-25 cm in length; flowering shoots should also be removed to encourage continued leaf production. Yield: Variable but, depending on the cultivar characteristics and the frequency of harvest, single plants may yield up to 1.5 kg of fresh leaves and young shoots over a period of 180 days.
Roots should be firm, deep red in colour and free from cracks, fibrous roots or corky patches; the tops, where left intact, should be turgid and free from pests or diseases. For the fresh market, the roots are sold with or without leaves; when leaves are attached, the roots can be conveniently tied in bunches. Surplus soil is removed by washing and some form of grading may be carried out, based on size and color. Bunched beetroot may be stored at 0C and a relative humidity of 90% for up to 10 days, whereas topped roots may be stored at 0-1C for 55-90 days at a relative humidity of 90-95%.
The shoots and leaves are relatively high in food value, providing a useful source of vitamins and minerals. The leaves of most forms contain mucilage and are normally cooked with meat or fish. The juice from the fruits is sometimes used as a food colouring.
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