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Posted on 11:04 PM by Wanto and filed under
By John Freeman
Synonym are X. violaceum Schott., Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott
Common names are Garden Beet, Beetroot (Eng.); Betterave Potaere, Betterave a Salade (Fr.); Remolachia (Sp.); Rote Bete, Rube (Ger.); Kroot, Rode Biet (Neth.); Chakundar (Ind.); Bit (Mal. and Indon.).
Common names are Tan(n)ia, Tannier, Yautia, Elephant's Ear (Eng.); Chou Caraibe (Fr.); Belembe, Calalu, Malanga, Tayobe, Tayonne, Tayo Tyo (W.I.); Mangaretto, Rascadera, Taioba (Braz.); Yautia (Lat. Amer.); Kimpool.(Indon.); Kong Kong Taro (Pap. N. Gum.); Maduma (E. Afr.). In West Africa and other areas, Xanthosoma is commonly referred to as Tocoyam'
Native to tropical Asia, possibly India or China, now widely grown in many tropical regions. Introduced to tropical West Africa comparatively recently.
Cultivated in tropical Asia (India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia); the Caribbean: West Africa. In the Philippines, the red-leaved form is grown in preference to cultivars with green leaves. Both forms are cultivated to a limited extent in West Africa.
A short-lived perennial with a twining habit. Stems: fleshy, glabrous, green or red, up to 6 m in length. Leaves: alternate, ovate-triangular, petiolate, fleshy, entire, normally cordate, slightly decurrent, 5-15 cm X 2.5-13 cm. Flowers: petals 4, small, pink or white, sessile, on short spikes, produced in the axils cf the leaves. Fruits: round, succulent, enclosed within the perianth, 6-8 mm in diameter. Seeds: approximately 30 seeds/g. The form often referred to as B. rubra has red or purple stems, purple-green leaves and pale pink flowers.
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 is normally by means of small corms, as for Colocasia, although the tops of young plants are often removed and inserted as cuttings. Rooted cuttings or corms are planted on low ridges 75-90 cm apart, 90 cm between plants; the more vigorous forms may require a wider spacing. Approximately 2.5-5.0 t/ha of corms are required for planting. Earthing up is considered advantageous during the early part of the growing period, possibly followed by mulching during hot weather.
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.
Mature corms do not deteriorate if left in the ground and it is a common practice to harvest corms for immediate consumption as required. Considerable care should be taken to avoid damage to the corms at harvest time since this may lead to rapid deterioration. Corms may be stored in well-ventilated conditions for up to 180 days. Storage at 7C and 80% relative humidity has been found to maintain corms in good condition, without loss of eating quality, for about 120-130 days. Traditional pit storage is generally more satisfactory than ventilated room or barn storage.
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.
Common names are Garden Beet, Beetroot (Eng.); Betterave Potaere, Betterave a Salade (Fr.); Remolachia (Sp.); Rote Bete, Rube (Ger.); Kroot, Rode Biet (Neth.); Chakundar (Ind.); Bit (Mal. and Indon.).
Common names are Tan(n)ia, Tannier, Yautia, Elephant's Ear (Eng.); Chou Caraibe (Fr.); Belembe, Calalu, Malanga, Tayobe, Tayonne, Tayo Tyo (W.I.); Mangaretto, Rascadera, Taioba (Braz.); Yautia (Lat. Amer.); Kimpool.(Indon.); Kong Kong Taro (Pap. N. Gum.); Maduma (E. Afr.). In West Africa and other areas, Xanthosoma is commonly referred to as Tocoyam'
Native to tropical Asia, possibly India or China, now widely grown in many tropical regions. Introduced to tropical West Africa comparatively recently.
Cultivated in tropical Asia (India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia); the Caribbean: West Africa. In the Philippines, the red-leaved form is grown in preference to cultivars with green leaves. Both forms are cultivated to a limited extent in West Africa.
A short-lived perennial with a twining habit. Stems: fleshy, glabrous, green or red, up to 6 m in length. Leaves: alternate, ovate-triangular, petiolate, fleshy, entire, normally cordate, slightly decurrent, 5-15 cm X 2.5-13 cm. Flowers: petals 4, small, pink or white, sessile, on short spikes, produced in the axils cf the leaves. Fruits: round, succulent, enclosed within the perianth, 6-8 mm in diameter. Seeds: approximately 30 seeds/g. The form often referred to as B. rubra has red or purple stems, purple-green leaves and pale pink flowers.
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 is normally by means of small corms, as for Colocasia, although the tops of young plants are often removed and inserted as cuttings. Rooted cuttings or corms are planted on low ridges 75-90 cm apart, 90 cm between plants; the more vigorous forms may require a wider spacing. Approximately 2.5-5.0 t/ha of corms are required for planting. Earthing up is considered advantageous during the early part of the growing period, possibly followed by mulching during hot weather.
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.
Mature corms do not deteriorate if left in the ground and it is a common practice to harvest corms for immediate consumption as required. Considerable care should be taken to avoid damage to the corms at harvest time since this may lead to rapid deterioration. Corms may be stored in well-ventilated conditions for up to 180 days. Storage at 7C and 80% relative humidity has been found to maintain corms in good condition, without loss of eating quality, for about 120-130 days. Traditional pit storage is generally more satisfactory than ventilated room or barn storage.
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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