Abstract
Barbados gooseberry is an unconventional food plant with great protein production potential for human consumption. A field experiment was conducted with four types of soil covers and six replications to optimize the cultivation of this plant. Treatments were composed of four soil covers, forage peanut, straw from sun hemp and millet, white plastic cover, and a treatment without soil cover and with hoeing. After transplanting, the initial growth of seedlings was analyzed through weekly monitoring of plant height, stem diameter, and the number of leaves. After two months, the first cut was performed, and fresh biomass was quantified. Straw and white plastic cover presented improved plant height and leaf number compared to other treatments, resulting in a higher yield of Barbados gooseberry. Key words: Pereskia aculeata Mill., vegetable protein, unconventional food plant.
Highlights
Barbados gooseberry (Pereskia aculeata Miller) is an unconventional food plant found throughout Brazil, rich in protein and antioxidant compounds
Four evaluations of plant height, number of leaves, and stem diameter were taken after transplanting, at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after transplanting (DAT)
At 28 days after transplanting, it was observed that the straw and white plastic covering treatments provided the highest plant height and number of leaves
Summary
Barbados gooseberry (Pereskia aculeata Miller) is an unconventional food plant found throughout Brazil, rich in protein and antioxidant compounds. This plant is a cactus that, in addition to the true leaves used for human consumption, produces honey flowers and edible fruits, considered important for feeding birds and frugivorous mammals. Barbados gooseberry is traditionally used as a medicinal plant in some regions of Brazil, and scientific research has increasingly attested to the therapeutic potential of the leaves (de Carvalho et al, 2019). Due to its adaptability to different climates, Barbados gooseberry is a suitable option for cultivation; it is easy to propagate, has fast growth with a low incidence of pests and diseases, and adaptability to different types of soil and climate (Tofanelli and Resende, 2011). Scientific studies on its cultivation are still scarce due to insufficient information about adequate soil conditions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
