Abstract:
High yield and dry matter are important characteristics of sweet potatoes varieties in addition to
starch content which has industrial applications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the
performance of progenies sweet potato obtained from controlled cross system for higher root
yield, dry matter content and starch. Field experiment was conducted at the National Root Crops
Research Institute, Umudike, South-eastern Nigeria during the 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons
to evaluate diversity across progenies of three (3) sweetpotato families; Sauti × 442162 (6), Ligri
× Faara (17), Sauti × Bohye (17), including two check varieties (Umuspo3 and TIS 87/0087).
This experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The
variables observed included: number of root per plot, the weight of root per plot, dry matter
content, root yield and starch content. The analysis of variance showed a significant difference
among the tested genotypes in most of traits observed. Root yield ranged from 2.2– 19.33t/ha
and starch content ranged from 80.11mg100g-1 to 20.76mg100-1. SautiX442162/1 had the
highest starch content, 80.11mg100g-1 while SautiXBohye/9 had the lowest starch content,
20.76mg100-1. Five promising genotypes; LigriXFaara/2 (14.67t/ha), LigriXFaara/3 (16.02t/ha),
SautiXBohye/1 (15.03t/ha), SautiXBohye/2 (19.33t/ha), SautiXBohye/3 (16.00t/ha) recorded
high yield above the world’s estimated annual average yield of 13.7t/ha. Six promising
genotypes recorded starch content above 50mg100-1; SautiX442162/1 (80.11mg100-1),
SautiX442162/3 (77.51mg100-1), SautiX442162/2 (66.14mg100-1), SautiX442162/6 (57.36
mg100-1), SautiX442162/4 (57.19 mg100-1), SautiX442162/5 (55.99 mg100-1). Eleven
promising genotypes that recorded high yield and starch could be subjected to multi-location trail
and incorporated into further breeding program. |
