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.
