Characterization of butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) accessions for morphology,phenology, reproduction and potential nutraceutical,pharmaceutical trait utilization

Butterfly pea, Clitoria ternatea is used in Africa as a companion crop and in the United States as an ornamental. The USDA, ARS, PGRCU curates 28 butterfly pea accessions. Butterfly pea accessions were transplanted from about 30-day-old seedlings to the field in Griffin, GA around 01 June 1999, 2003, 2006–2007 or directly sown in 2001. At 50% maturity, 19 accessions were characterized for morphology, phenology, and evaluated for regeneration. High quality plants regenerated from all accessions produced 6 to more than 3,400 total seeds. Butterfly pea can be successfully grown and regenerated in Griffin, GA. Coefficients of variation and principal component analysis revealed considerable variability among accessions for morphological and reproductive traits. Butterfly pea has potential to be used as a nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or food. The flavonoid quercetin has been shown to reduce upper respiratory infections in humans while delphinidin and malvidin identified in butterfly pea flowers may inhibit various forms of cancer.