Morpho-agronomic characterization of Lake Victoria Basin taro genotypes

Abstract

An on-farm experiment was conducted in Kenya to assess the agro-morphological diversity of taro cocoyam accessions based on phenotypic characters. One hundred and seventy accessions of taro collected from the Lake Victoria basin of Kenya and Uganda were evaluated-morphologically using the IPGRI descriptors. 18 qualitative and 17 quantitative characters were studied. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified two major clusters each with various subgroups. Most qualitative and quantitative descriptors displayed considerable variability. Diversified qualitative taro characters were leaf margin color, lower leaf color, petiole color and leaf surface glossiness while growth habit, exterior corm surface texture, corm shape and corm exterior color were monomorphic. Most divergent quantitative parameters were observed in corm weight, plant span and height and petiole length while low variability was seen in the ability to produce sucker above ground, corm length and diameter. Pearson’s correlation revealed significant correlation between corm weight, corm length and corm diameter and some qualitative and quantitative taro characters. Euclidean proximity similarity matrix for all the tested taro samples was 82.1% for quantitative parameters. These data indicate significant genetic variation exists within the genotypes used in this study and that the germplasm would be of great value as a genetic resource in breeding programs.