2. Introduction
Basella alba commonly known as
poi, Malabar nightshade, Vine
spinach, basella, Climbing spinach
and Indian spinach is a popular
summer leafy vegetable grown in
almost all parts of India.
The plants has fleshy stem and
leaves and is of a trailing habit.
Besides, India, it is widely
cultivated in tropical Asia, Africa
and tropical areas of the new
world.
Indian spinach is commonly grown
for its leaves and young shoots.
3. Composition and Uses
• It is a excellent source of calcium (109mg), iron (10mg), vitamin A (8,000 IU),
vitaminC (102mg) and folic acid (140μg) per 100g of fresh weight.
• Roots are employed as rubefacient.
• Poultice of leaves used to reduce local swelling.
• The colouring matter present in the red cultivar is reported to have been used as a
dye.
• The juice of leaves is prescribed in cases of constipation, particularly for children
and pregnant women.
• It contain saponin that act as phytochemicals. Fight against cancer and other
diseases.
• Sap can be applied to acne areas to eliminate irritation. The sap has a softening or
soothing effect especially to the skin.
• Leaf juice with butter has a soothing effects on burns and scalds. Stems and leaf
extract can cure habitual headache.
• Good source of fibers.
• Good substitute for spinach.
4. Origin and Taxonomy
• The crop is thought to be originated in
Asia and more particularly in India.
• India, being the primary centre of
diversity for Basella.
• It belongs to the family Basellaceae
and genus Basella.
• There is only one species B. rubra
(2n=2x=24) which is very variable.
• Basella is a fleshy annual or biennial,
twining much branched herb with
alternate, broadly entire leaves. Leaves
are broadly ovate and pointed at the
apex.
• Flowers are white or pink, small sessile
in clusters on elongated thickened
peduncles in an open branched
inflorescence.
• Fruit is enclosed in fleshy perianth.
5. • There is mainly two distinct types of
cultivars
i) reddish petioles and stems
(Basella alba var. rubra)
ii) green leaves, petioles and stems
(Basella alba var. alba)
• Both red and green leaved cultivars are
consumed as vegetables but green-
leaved cultivars are commonly
cultivated and belongs to var. alba.
• The red-leaved and green-leaved
cultivars are equally common in West
Bengal, Assam and south India, while
the green-leaved ones are more popular
in UP and Punjab.
• All the cultivars are trained on poles,
pandals, trellis or grown on ground.
6. • Important cultivars are:
i) VRBASELLA-11 bears dark green caudate
leaves which are very soft and succulent. Stem is
thick but soft and become ready for harvest in 40
days after planting.
ii) IC561377 is a late flowering genotype. The
plant is twining in habit and bears dark green
ovate leaves on purple stem. The flowering starts
in December and it produces tender leaves and
stem even during winter season.
iii) EC769321-1 bears snow white flowers.
Immature fruit is green in colour without any
pinkish or purple tinge.
7. Soils and Climate
• The crop grows best in sandy loam soils rich in
organic matter with pH ranging from 5.5 to 8.0.
• Adequate moisture and partial shade result in
better growth of the plant and formation of bigger
succulent leaves.
• Optimum temperature is 25-32˚C
• Cultivation of this crop should be avoided in
region affected by frost. The crop is usually
grown during warm and moist seasons.
8. Sowing and Seed rate
• Basella is commercially propagated
through seeds but stem or root cuttings
are also practiced.
• In the northern and eastern part of India,
seeds are sown from March to May,
while in the southern parts it is grown
twice, once in July and again in
October to November.
• Late spring or early summer is the best
time for sowing in the hills.
• Spacing – 45cm x 45cm
• Plants are allowed to sprawl over the
ground.
• The crop is also raised on bamboo stakes
or trained in trellis. In such cases, seeds
are sown 20-25cm apart in rows at the
base of bamboo stakes or trellis.
• Seed rate – 12-15kg/ha
9. Manuring and Fertilization
• Rich soil is essential for a good crop and only
nitrogenous fertilizer application has been found
beneficial.
• Apply 200-300q well decomposed FYM or
compost /ha at the time of field preparation. It is
essential to supply 60-80kg N, 40-60 kg each of
phosphorous and potassium /ha to raise healthy
crop.
• Phosphorous and potassium are applied as basal
dose whereas nitrogen in two to three split doses.
10. • Sufficient moisture is needed to produce rapid
and succulent growth. Inadequate moisture
may lead to thin, wiry stems and small leaves.
• The crop, in general requires 5-6 irrigations
when grown in summer and the frequency of
irrigation depends on the soil type.
• Intercultural operations are to be done as and
when necessary. The field should be kept free
from weeds.
11. • Crop raised from seeds will produce edible
leaves and stems after 8-10 weeks from
sowing.
• The plants raised from root or stem cuttings
will be ready for harvest in about 6 weeks after
planting.
• Yield – 40-50 t/ha.
12. Diseases and pests
The most important diseases infesting this crop
are:
1) Damping off ( Pythium aphanidermatum )
Management :
before sowing, hot water treatment of seed at 52˚C
for 30 min should be done.
Spray mancozeb (2.5g/lt), carbendazim (1g/lt) .
2) Leaf spot ( Acrothecium basellae, Fusarium
moniliforme and Cercospora sp. )
Management :
Seed treatment with carbendazim.
Spray crop with bavistin @ 0.1%
3) Mosaic due to undefined virus.
The crop is almost free from insect attack
though a minor incidence of caterpillars are
reported.
13. • Basella produce seeds freely during spring in North
India and during winter in South and East India.
• The agronomic practices followed for seed production
are similar to that for vegetable purpose.
• Proper isolation distances should be maintained
between two cultivars for producing nucleus and
foundation seeds. Seeds don’t shed from the fruits and
hence can be left on plant to become fully mature.
• The ripe fleshy fruits borne in cluster on elongated
peduncles are usually collected and seeds are extracted.
The seeds are then dried and kept in storage.
