INTRODUCTION AND BIOECOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE SPECIES BIXA ORELLANA L. IN THE CLOSED CONDITIONS OF APSHERON

Abstract

In the article, for the first time at the Institute of Dendrology of ANAS, the species Bixa orellana L. reports on the introduction, reproduction, bioecological features in the closed conditions of Absheron. Seeds of Bixa orellana L. were obtained from the Central Botanical Garden of Padua, Italy. Bixaceae Kunth. family, Bixa L. genus, Bixa orellana L. is a shrub or small tree growing in the tropics of the Americas. It was brought by the Spaniards in the 17th century and is also cultivated in Southeast Asia. The plant is evergreen, decorative, as well as known for the red pigment contained in the seeds, and is widely used as a food coloring as an alternative to similar synthetic means. Dye is obtained by extraction from seeds and used in powder or paste form. All parts of the plant are composed of coloring pigment,especially the fleshy seed shell, which is the source of the red-orange color, is rich in it. Its main component is red paint. For the first time, the biological features of the Bixa orellana L. species under the conditions of Absheron, the morphological description of seedlings, the growth dynamics of 1-2-year-old seedlings, the root system, and nutritional value were studied. The plant propagates by seeds and cuttings. Sepin (10.06.2021) was carried out in the first decade of June. The first shoots were noted on 06/23/2021, mass shoots were noted on 06/30/2021. Germination rate 80%, seedling survival rate 60%. When cutting, take young shoots 8-10 cm long and plant them in fertile soil or wet sand, after 7-9 weeks they give a lot of roots. After that, they can be moved to the field. In 1-2-year seedlings of the plant, the above-ground part (39-80 cm) develops better than the underground part (14-26.5 cm). Bixa orellana L. growth is divided into 2 periods, intensive height growth in the first period lasts from the second decade of May to the end of June, and the second growth lasts from the end of August to the third decade of October. Annual growth was 20-25 cm. Vegetation period varies between 280±5 days. This species is tolerant to Absheron's climatic conditions.