EFFECT OF LIGHT INTENSITY ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL GROWTH AND NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITIONS OF MALABAR SPINACH (Basella alba L.)

Light is one of the essential factors affecting plants’ growth, development, and metabolite composition. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of light intensity on the growth and nutritional compositions of Basella alba. Matured seeds of Basella alba were sown in eight troughs filled with loam soil. The troughs in the screen house were divided into two groups: Group A, the low light intensity treated was placed under constant light of 5 LUX while Group B, high light intensity was placed under intense day sunlight taken at 9 a.m., 12noon, 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. respectively. Mean daylight intensities for respective periods of the day were 6755 LUX, 11762 LUX, 8192 LUX, and 3550 LUX. The nutritional compositions such as thiamine, vitamin A, ascorbic acid, total carbohydrate, and Iron contents were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The data collected was subjected to analysis of variance, while the mean were separated using Student Newmans Keul (SNK) Test. The results showed that stem girth (cm), number of leaves, leaf area (cm2), and fresh and dry weights (mg) were favored by plants under light conditions except plant heights which favored only plants under low light conditions. The results further showed that the value of nutrients per 100 grams fresh weight was high in plants under intense light, compared to plants under low light. It could be concluded that Basella alba thrives very well under high light intensity and retarded under low light intensity, therefore the growth of plants and their nutritional compositions are impaired under low light intensity favourable to them. Thus, efforts should be made in agricultural fields to supply plants with the optimum light required for their growth and development.