On the Road to Purple Bekana: A Journey to the Perfect Purple Leaf
Creating the perfect Purple Bekana—a delicious, crunchy Tokyo Bekana in a striking purple hue—is an exciting journey. This article explores the process, challenges, and decisions involved in breeding this unique variety. Whether you’re a gardening enthusiast or simply curious about plant breeding, join us as we delve into the steps to achieve this vibrant vegetable.
The Beginning: Crossbreeding Tokyo Bekana and Rainbow Tatsoi
The journey to Purple Bekana began with a cross between Tokyo Bekana and Rainbow Tatsoi. Tokyo Bekana, known for its crisp texture and mild flavor, was paired with the colorful and hardy Rainbow Tatsoi. The goal was to create a new variety with the desirable traits of both parents: the crunchiness of Bekana and the vibrant hues of Tatsoi.
Selecting the Latest Generation
In the past week, we have been selecting the latest generation from this cross. The process involves careful evaluation of each plant to identify those that best meet the criteria for Purple Bekana. This includes assessing the plant’s growth habit, leaf texture, color, and overall vigor.
A Plant That Doesn’t Fit the Criteria
Among the promising plants, there is one that stands out—but not for the right reasons. This particular plant does not meet the desired criteria for Purple Bekana:
- Growth Habit: It is not upright.
- Leaf Texture: The leaves are neither frilly nor savoyed.
- Plant Heft: The plant lacks the substantial heft desired.
- Stem Crunchiness: Though the stems were not tasted, they do not look particularly crunchy.
- Genetic Influence: It shows more traits of Tatsoi than Bekana.
In short, this plant embodies nearly everything that we have been selecting against.
The Plant’s Redeeming Qualities
Despite its shortcomings, this plant has a few redeeming qualities:
- Pink Ribs: It has attractive pink ribs.
- Purple Leaves: The older leaves exhibit a nice purple color.
These traits, coupled with its overall appearance, make the plant aesthetically pleasing, even if it doesn’t fit the original selection criteria.
To Remove or Not to Remove?
The logical step would be to remove this plant from the population to maintain the integrity of the breeding program. However, for now, the plant remains. It has been marked with three flags to distinguish it from the others in the bed.
Future Considerations: Seed Harvesting and Genetic Diversity
If the plant goes to seed, the seeds will be harvested separately and stored in their own envelope. Next year, these seeds will be grown in a dedicated space. A strategy will be developed to prevent inbreeding, as relying on a single parent in a population offers limited genetic diversity.
Conclusion: Appreciating the Journey
For now, the plant will remain where it is, admired for its unique qualities despite not meeting the primary goals. The journey to creating the perfect Purple Bekana is filled with challenges, decisions, and the occasional unexpected beauty.
By understanding the meticulous process of plant breeding, gardeners and plant enthusiasts can appreciate the effort involved in developing new varieties. Whether the plant is removed or allowed to contribute to the next generation, it represents a step on the road to the perfect Purple Bekana.
Final Thoughts
Creating a new plant variety is a journey of patience, observation, and decision-making. Each plant, even those that don’t meet all the criteria, contributes to the learning process. As we continue this journey, we look forward to achieving the goal of a crunchy, vibrant Purple Bekana that will delight gardeners and food enthusiasts alike.