RESPONSES OF Basella urbra TO FOLIAR APPLICATIONS OF GROWTH PROMOTERS

This study was conducted to evaluate effect of growth regulator treatments on the growth and nutritional compositions of Basella rubra. A total of three foliar applications of 30 ml of 100 ppm and 200 ppm GA3, 10% and 20% coconut milk and 10% and 20% coconut water were applied two weeks interval commencing from two weeks after sowing. The control plants were sprayed with distilled water. Data were collected and subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range test at P<0.05. Foliar applications of all the treatments significantly (P<0.05) increased plant height, stem height, leaf length and number of leaves. Highest plant height (28.80 cm), stem height (23.40 cm), leaf length (5.00 cm) and number of leaf (13) were recorded in Basella rubra treated with 200 ppm GA3. Moisture contents, dry matter, fat, ash, crude fibre, crude protein and carbohydrate of leaves and roots varied significantly (P<0.05) across the treatments. Significant increase (P<0.05) was recorded in the nutritional composition recorded from leaves of Basella rubra compared with control. Highest moisture content (78.93%), dry matter (61.05%), fat (2.39%), ash (4.38%), crude protein (8.67%) and carbohydrate (30.70%) were recorded from the leaves of Basella rubra treated with 200 ppm GA3, followed by 20% coconut milk. Also, roots of Basella rubra treated with 200 ppm GA3 exhibited highest proportion of moisture content (45.39%), dry matter (25.65%), fat (1.21%), ash (2.25%), crude fibre (4.07%), crude protein (18.95%) compared with other treatments. Mineral composition was higher in leaves than roots across the treatments. Highest sodium (0.87 mg/100 g), (mg/100 g), potassium (10.78 mg/100 g) and phosphorus 0.96 mg/100 g) were recorded from the leaves of Basella rubra treated with 200 ppm GA3 while coconut milk produced highest magnesium (1.42). In the same trend, sodium (0.57 mg/100 g), potassium (7.14 mg/100 g) calcium (0.68 mg/100 g), magnesium (1.25 mg/100 g) and phosphorus (0.81 mg/100 g) were major mineral observed in the root of Basella rubra treated with 200 ppm GA3 followed by coconut milk.