Growth and Development Characteristics of Molokhia (Corchorus olitorius L.), a Subtropical Leafy Vegetable
2009
Han, J.S., Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea | Yoo, E.H., National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Suwon, Republic of Korea
Here we firstly report on the growth and development characteristics of molokhia (Corchorus olitorius L.) in Korea, which is a subtropical vegetable that reportedly contains rich minerals and biologically functional substances. Three molokhia accessions introduced from Japan and the Philippines were cultivated in different cropping seasons. The spring-sown (20 April) seedlings showed a vigorous growth during hot season, and their final heights mounted up to 3.3 m when measured in the end of cultivation (20 October). Both spring- and summer-sown (20 June) molokhia plants produced the marketable tender shoots while the growth of autumn-sown (20 August) ones was suppressed owing to low temperature. Meanwhile, the first flowering arose from springand summer-sown plants on 19 May and 23 October, respectively, which confirms that molokhia is a short day plant species with daylength-sensitivity variation depending on genotypes. Our results indicate that the early transition from vegetative stage to reproductive stage has contrary aspects regarding the economic production of vegetable and seed: unfavorable to vegetable yield but crucial for seed production. The viable seeds were harvested from the summer-sown plants in the amount of 10 g per plant. We believe that the present study might contribute to domestic production of molokhia as a leafy vegetable with seeds in Korea, a temperate zone.
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