New Genotypes of Basella rubra and Basella alba Acclimatized and Bred at Vegetable Research and Development Station Buzău

Abstract

Basella alba is an underutilized plant with great food and medicinal potential, newly acclimatized in Romania at Vegetable Research and Development Station (VRDS) Buzau. For over 10 years, the Genetic, Breeding and Biodiversity Laboratory has studied a number of 12 genotypes from Basella spp. of these, two accessions (L5 and L8) showed distinct phenotypic feature. The experience has been done in randomized blocks with three replications, and the number of plants analyzed for each variant was 50. On L8 accession, the anthocyanin coloration was not present, unlike accession L5 which features a strong anthocyanin coloration, especially along the stem and on the dorsal side of the leaf. Specifically B. alba var. rubra shows a leaf width of 14.8 cm and a weight of 20 g, and the B. alba shows a leaf width of 21.4 cm and a weight of 27.5 g. Basella alba recorded the highest percentage in dry matter in the smallest leaves, namely 7.69% and Basela alba var. rubra registered the highest percentage in dry matter also in the small leaves, of 7.98%. The aim of this study was to assess the morphological traits in order to patent a new acclimatized species in Romania. The study was finalized with one variety (L5) that has been successfully qualified for DUS test (Distinction, Uniformity and Stability) and soon will be registered in the Official Catalogue of Species and Varieties of Cultivated Plants.