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‘Sufola Batishak’ A Good Quality Pechay Variety Developed by BRAC for the Vegetable
Growers
Sitesh C. Biswas*
BRAC Agricultural Research & Development Centre, BRRI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh
*Corresponding author: sitesh.cb@brac.net
Abstract
A good quality pechay (Batishak) has been developed at BRAC Agricultural Research and Development
Centre (BARDC) to meet the increasing demand of fast growing leafy vegetables in the vegetable market of
Bangladesh performing conventional breeding method introduction followed by reselection method. Compared to
check varieties this newly developed pechay variety (commercial name Sufola Batishak) gave higher yield, exhibited
late in flowering and it was found to be tolerant to major diseases & pests as well. This new pechay variety is also a
year round variety and besides its open field cultivation it gave a very good yield when cultivated under polythene
tunnel in the rainy season during the crisis period of vegetables. At BARDC, satisfactory production of the new pechay
variety was also noticed following cut-and-come-again method. Due to the better performance of newly developed
pechay line at the farmer’s level it was released by the BRAC Seed Enterprise Division giving the commercial name
as ‘Sufola Batishak’. Its fresh vegetable production has been recorded as 25-30 Mt/ha. Since at the growers level a
very good seed production performance of this ‘Sufola Batishak’ was found in Bangladeshi agro-climatic condition
this pechay variety was found to be a profitable vegetable for seed business and sustainable batishak cultivation as
well in this country.
Key words: Brassica rapa L. Introduction, Leafy vegetable, Nutritious vegetable, Pechay, Selection, Sufola
batishak
Pechay or Bok choy or Bati shak (Brassica rapa) belongs to the family Cruciferae or Brassicaceae
(Gonzales et al. 2015) is a quick growing short aged popular leafy vegetable of China, Philippines, Eastern
Asia and South East Asian countries and this very profitable nutritious vegetable requires cool and moist
environment for its better growth and development. Its leaves are consumed as raw or in cooked form
(Aglosolos et al. 2021) although consumption of raw leaves are recommended since nutritional value is
diminished by cooking (Prado 2014) and its petioles also considered as a preferable part for preparing
delicious dishes. In the Philippines, pechay is believed to be an oldest green vegetables and this particular
leafy vegetable plays a vital role in its economy and the nutrition of its people (Gonzales et al. 2015). In
Bangladesh it is relatively a new vegetable and so far only one variety of pechay has been released by
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (Razzaque et al. 2000). Although pechay can be grown in this
country almost throughout the year but its seed production is restricted only in the winter season (Razzaque
et al. 2000). Owing to its excellent flavor, good taste, relatively higher production of fresh vegetables within
a very short period and has good health benefits due to the presence of calcium, iron, carotene, phosphorus,
vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants etc. (Utama and Wibowo 2022, Baek et al. 2021) gradually it is becoming a
profitable vegetable for the Bangladeshi commercial vegetable growers. Besides its cultivation as a field
crop; it can be grown as a suitable vegetable for the roof garden and balcony gardens as well. Pechay can
also be grown hydroponically (Baek et al. 2021, Briggs et al. 2019, Nair and Irish 2016). Considering the
importance of pechay as an important leafy vegetable and to develop a new BRAC pechay variety, a Filipino
accession of pechay germplasm (Pechay 01) was introduced at BARDC (BRAC Agricultural Research and
Development Centre) during the year 2007. After a series of cultivation and reselection from the Filipino
accession a new advance line of pechay was developed.
Seeds of pechay received from ATI (Agriculture Training Institute), Manila, Philippines were sown
on 10.11.2008 in seed bed for its successful germination and emergence of seedlings. Fifteen days old
healthy seedlings were transplanted on 26.11.2008 in the main plot consisting 0.94 decimal of land
maintaining the distance line to line as 30 cm. and plant to plant as 15cm. Standard pechay cultivation

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practices were followed to ensure better plant growth and development. At 21 days after transplanting
(DAT) data were recorded from randomly selected ten plants as in Bangladeshi consumers usually prefer
to consume pechay at this stage and the data have been presented in Table.1. First generation data reveals
the fact that the performance showed by the Filipino pechay is relatively satisfactory. Observing good plant
growth and development rest of the plants were allowed to grow for seed production. Normal flowering
and excellent fruit setting was observed in the pechay plants in Bangladeshi agro climatic condition. Seeds
from healthy plants were harvested and stored carefully at the end of the season. Healthy seeds obtained
from the Filipino stock (Pechay 01) were sown in the next year for growing second generation of pechay
and again selection process was operated for its further improvement. Following the same procedure up to
the 6th
generation a relatively homogenous group of pechay plants was obtained which constituted the
advance pechay line (BRAC Pechay) (Figs.1 & 2). A comparative analysis of data between the 1st
generation
and 6th
generation has been presented in the Table. 1.
Table. 1. Comparison between 1st
and 6th
generation morphological data of BARDC developed
pechay (Bati shak) (at 21 DAS).
1st
generation
Plant
height/plant
(cm)
Plant
spreading/plant
(cm)
No. of leaves/
plant
Length of 3
fully expanded
leaves
(cm)
Width of 3
fully
expanded
leaves
(cm)
Plant wt./ plant
(g)
Mean 23.14 35.90 11.97 28.45 15.61 204.34
Range 21.00 -32.86 31.9 -39.26 10.04 -15.52 27.09 - 30.43 14.30 -17.04 142.43 -250.17
S.D ±2.26 ±2.48 ±2.48 ±1.29 ±1.22 ±34.85
6th
generation
Plant height
/plant (cm)
Plant
spreading/plant
(cm)
No. of leaves/
plant
Length of 3
fully expanded
leaves
(cm)
Width of 3
fully
expanded
leaves
(cm)
Plant wt./plant
(g)
Mean 30.27 33.50 10.63 28.95 16.85 236.47
Range 28.00 -33.00 29.00 - 37.00 10.00 - 11.00 25.67 - 31.33 15.00 - 18.67 156.90 - 320.10
S.D ±1.43 ±1.91 ±0.51 ±1.29 ±0.91 ±47.49
Compared to 1st
generation in the 6th
generation plant height and plant wt. per plant were found to
be increased considerably (30.81% and 15.72% respectively) while plant spreading was found to be
decreased (7.16%) which may due to the operation of selection process towards the more compact and
heavier large plants in each and every generation. Table.1 also reveals the fact that uniformity rate among
the plants of the 6th
generation population has been increased compared to the 1st
generation plants. The
main features of the new BRAC pechay line are:
1. Quick growing short duration leafy vegetable having delicious taste.
2. Plants have a nice vigour, stems are fleshy, white and broad deep green leaves are thicker with
crispy texture and white petioles.
3. Very easy to cultivate and free from the attack of major diseases and pests.

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4. Production per unit area is appreciably high compared to traditional leafy vegetables viz., red
amaranth, radish, spinach and the vegetable form of oil seeded Brassica (Sorisha shak).
5. It can be utilized in the international standard hotels and restaurants and also as an exportable
vegetable commodity for the super markets as well.
6. Plants having 14-15 leaves with the leaf size- 30 cm X 17 cm and vegetable harvesting can be
started from 21-22 days after transplanting.
7. Production of fresh vegetable is around 25- 30 Mt/ha.
8. Seed production of the new pechay line is also profitable as on an average 20g -25g of seeds
can be produced from a single plant.
9. This good quality pechay line can also be grown as a suitable vegetable for roof top and balcony
gardening.
10. Multiple harvesting of vegetables is possible from this pechay line following cut-and-come-
again practice.
11. Late bolting pechay line which ensures higher production and good quality.
After the development of the new advance pechay line (BRAC Pechay) this promising line was
tested in the preliminary yield trial for its suitability as a commercial variety. For this purpose,
seeds of the advance pechay line were sown in experimental plot along with the check varieties on
05.10.2014 in 3 replications. Results of the preliminary yield trial has been presented in Table. 2.
Fig. 1. Newly developed pechay line in the experimental Fig. 2. A single plant of BARDC developed
plot of BARDC. advance line of pechay.
Preliminary yield trial showed the superiority of BRAC pechay line over the other two check
varieties in all the characters (Figs. 3, 5 & 9). It was also identified as an early variety and gave higher yield
too (Table. 2). Data showed that the BRAC pechay line had 10.45% higher plant wt. than the pak choy of
Momin seed and 9.20% than Bati shak of Rajdhani seed. Similarly, the newly developed line recorded
8.42% increased yield than pak choy of Momin seed and 4.30% higher yield Bati shak of Rajdhani seed.
Critical observation also revealed the fact that BRAC developed line is a late bolting variety as well (Fig.

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4 & 9) and it produced on an average 20-25g of seeds per each plant. Haunold (1981) also opined that along
with introduction, reselection is a less expensive breeding technique through which a variety can be
improved in a relatively shorter time. It can be mentioned here that this advance pechay line also exhibited
nice performance when they were grown under polythene tunnel during the rainy season (Biswas 2012). In
Bangladesh, during the monsoon period only few vegetables can be grown due to severe waterlogging
condition resulted due to heavy rainfall but if the pechay can be grown under polythene tunnel the crop
usually give a very satisfactory performance and the farmer can earn a very good profit.
Table. 2. Mean values of morphological characters of BARDC developed pechay and check
varieties (PYT).
Variety Source Plant
height/
plant (cm)
Plant
spreading/
plant
(cm)
No. of
leaves/
plant
Length of
3 fully
expanded
leaves
(cm)
Width
of 3 fully
expanded
leaves
(cm)
Plant wt./
plant
(g)
% of
increased
plant wt.
in BRAC
Pechay
than
check
varieties
Yield
(Mt/ha)
% of
increased
yield in
BRAC
Pechay
than
check
varieties
BRAC
Pechay
BRAC 29.20±1.01 36.59±2.68 9.52±0.63 25.57±2.62 15.57±0.91 83.97±3.08 - 4.12±4.32 -
Pak
choy
Momin
seed
29.02±0.87 33.02±2.49 8.52±0.27 25.50±2.22 13.65±0.28 76.02±2.30 10.45 3.80±3.41 8.42
Bati
shak
Rajdhani
seed
26.59±2.20 31.20±1.46 7.82±0.42 23.75±1.04 12.47±1.02 76.89±7.50 9.20 3.95±5.34 4.30
Fig. 3. Comparison between BRAC pechay (BARDC) & Fig. 4. Late bolting nature of BRAC pechay
check varieties. (BARDC) variety.

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Fig. 5. Preliminary yield trial plot (PYT) of BARDC developed pechay line along with the check varieties.
Newly developed pechay line was also tested for Cut-and-come-again practice (Table. 3,
Figs. 6, 7 & 8). Fresh pechay seeds collected from the new line were sown on 4.40 m X 1m bed
for this purpose. Excellent seed germination was noticed and since the growth of the pechay plants
were relatively faster, within a few days the plants attained a height of 20-21 cm and became
suitable for 1st
harvesting of leaves at 30 DAS (Days After Sowing). Young pechay plants with
tender leaves were cut at 2-3 inches up from the soil surface and a total of 3 kg of leaves were
collected at 1st
harvesting. After 1st
harvesting, the excised plants were provided with normal
fertilization and irrigation practices. In response to the proper cultural practices, each of the cut
plants started to produce new leaves and the emerged shoots were again found to be suitable for
2nd
harvesting after 14 days i.e. at 44 DAS. However, to gather more information regarding seed
production from the cut plants, the plants were kept intact for seed production. Flowering in the cut plants
was found to be delayed by 4-5 days than normal plants but excellent flowering as well as fruit setting were
observed in the regenerated shoots of the excised plants. Interestingly, good quality pechay seeds were also
obtained from these cut plants at the end of the season. Liu and Liu (2023) also recommended the practice
of multiple harvesting of pechay when it is grown at the homestead level. In a separate experiment, Biswas
(2012b) reported a very amazing result in spinach applying Cut-and-come-again practice.
Fig. 6. Pechay ready for Fig. 7. Multiple harvesting Fig. 8. Normal (L) & sprouted pechay
plant leaf harvesting. practice in pechay. (R).

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Table 3. Comparative study of morphological characters of the normal and cut plants at 45
DAS).
Status of
the plant
Plant height
(cm)
Plant
spreading
(cm)
No. of
leaves/
plant
Length of
leaves
(cm)
Width of
leaves (cm)
Days taken to
1st
flowering
Cut plants 31.83
(30.00 - 34.00)
28.17
(25.00 - 30.00)
7.33
(6.00 - 8.00)
30.06
(27.67- 32.33)
13.08
(11.33 -16.17)
47.00
(47.00 - 50.00)
Control 25.67
(25.00 – 26.00)
26.33
(26.00 - 27.00)
12.00
(10.00 -14.00)
24.67
(24.00 - 25.67)
11.34
(9.67-12.67)
42.00
(42.00 - 45.00)
Fig. 9. Better performance of Sufola Batishak (Left) in the Fig. 10. Sticker used on seed
experimental Plot of BARDC. packet.
After successful Advance Yield Trial (AYT) and Multilocational Yield Trial (MLT) this
BRAC pechay advance line was released as a commercial variety giving the name ‘Sufola
Batishak’ and BRAC produced 300 kg seed for marketing during the year 2017-18 (Fig. 10).
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Address:
Dr. Sitesh Chandra Biswas
Program Specialist (Retired)
BRAC Agricultural Research & Development Centre (BARDC)
Jogitola, BRRI, Joydebpur, Gazipur
BANGLADESH
Mobile Phone: +8801730349845
E-mail: sitesh.cb@brac.net
or, siteshchbiswas@yahoo.com
ORCID ID : Sitesh C. Biswas http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2179-8608
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