ISSN: 2474-8846
Authors: Nutsukpo EB, Ofoe R, Kumar AP, Chada S, Ofori PA and Abbey L*
Sustained global climate change and shift in growing seasons have led to the introduction of various tropical crops in temperate regions but the impact on their chemical composition is unknown. A controlled-environment study was conducted in growth chambers (GC) to evaluate the response of two tropical leafy vegetables namely, gboma (Solanum macrocarpon L) and jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius L) at day/night temperature regimes of 32°/27°C (GC32), 20°/15°C (GC20), 15°/10°C (GC15), and greenhouse average temperature of 24°/21°C (GH24). The results demonstrated that temperature variability had significant (p<0.05) impact on the two plants species. Relative plant growths of gboma and jute mallow were markedly higher in GH24 and GC32, respectively, compared to the other temperatures. The gboma and jute mallow plants grown in GC32 had the highest leaf length. The gboma plants grown in GC24 recorded a significantly (p<0.05) higher number of leaves, which was approximately 36% higher compared their counterparts grown in the GC32. Jute mallow plants grown in the GC32 significantly (p<0.05) recorded the highest number of leaves, plant height, stem diameter and leaf area. Gboma plants grown in GC24 had significantly (p<0.05) the highest maximum quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) compared to all the other treatments. For the jute mallow, the GC32 environment gave a significantly (p<0.05) higher maximum quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll content, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance compared to the other growth conditions. Gboma and jute mallow plants grown in the GC15 chamber significantly (p<0.05) produced higher plant tissue contents of phenolics, flavonoids, and proline. The present study shows that gboma and jute mallow can grow well at temperatures between 20o to 32°C. Further studies should be conducted to assess the mechanism of low temperature adaptation, and proximate composition.
Keywords: Eggplant; Jute Mallow; Ethnic Vegetables; Tropical Plant; Leafy Vegetable; Ethnic Food
