Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Min-Fu Hu, Sin-Yie Liu, Shu-Chin Lo and Hung-Shung Lu

Abstract:

    A new hsian-tsao (Mesona procumbens Hems1.) variety ‘TART No. 1’ was selected from Tunglo at MiaoLi county by Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute of the Council of Agriculture. A clonal selection method was used to select from a population of 3,600 since 1989. A new clone was selected by its better agronomic characteristic performances through varietal observation test, comparative test, regional test and quality analysis. Variety of ‘TART No. 1’ was released to growers in September 1999 as a registered new cultivar with many outstanding characteristics. Variety of ‘TART No. 1’ belongs to a runner and leafy growing type. The cane color is pale purple with short and sparse pubescences on it. It has a pale green ellipsoidal leaf shape with medium dentation on margins and leaf size is about 5.2 cm in length and 2.7 cm in width. A growing duration of 180 days from transplanting to the appearance of flower buds, is needed for vegetative growing according to the results of varietal observation. The highest yields of whole plants or from leaf only are up to 10,000 kg/ha and 30,00 kg/ha according to the regional test, respectively. A strong gel formation strength of 30.2 g/cm² and a high scavenging activity on superoxide anions and of poly-saccharide polymer content in leaf extraction, 91.5% and a 17.7%, respectively, are obtained from fresh harvested plants of ‘TART No. 1’. Variety of ‘TART No. 1’ is adapted to the middle and southern part of Taiwan and in the Hsin-Chu area.

Key words:Hsian-tsao (Mesona procumbens Hemsi.), Clonal selection method, Gel formation strength, Poly-saccharide polymer content, Scavenging effect on superoxide anions

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