Dabocase (Plant)

Dabocase (scientific name: Beta vulgaris) is a plant species belonging to the family Amaranthaceae (formerly classified as Chenopodiaceae). It is cultivated for its swollen roots and broad leaves. Alternative names in Somali include baytaraaf and beytaraaf.

The cultivated varieties include one used as food, one for livestock fodder, and one from which sugar is extracted. These differences arose from prolonged selective breeding that increased root size and sugar content.

Plant characteristics

Dabocase is typically a biennial plant: in the first year it produces leaves and storage roots; in the second year it produces flowers and seeds. The leaves are broad and sometimes red or purple, with color deriving from betalain pigments. The roots of food varieties are usually dark purple, though white and yellow varieties exist.

Cultivated varieties

Four major groups are recognized: beetroot, whose roots are eaten; chard (silq), whose leaves are eaten; sugar beet, from which sucrose is extracted; and fodder beet, a livestock feed. All are the same biological species and differ only in selected traits.

Cultivation

Dabocase thrives in deep soil with good water drainage. It is more tolerant of soil salinity than many other crops, making it suitable for growing in alkaline soils. Seeds are sown directly in the field and later thinned to allow root expansion.

Uses

The roots are boiled, roasted, or eaten raw; the leaves are eaten as greens. Sugar beet is one of the world's major sugar sources, particularly in temperate regions of Europe. The betalain pigment is also used as a food coloring.