Field Evaluation of 25 Sweet Potato Genotypes for Qualitative and Quantitative characters, Biotic Reactions and starch Contents in UYO, Southeastern Nigeria.

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at the National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Uyo Outstation, Nigeria in 2021 cropping season. The aim was to evaluate 25 sweet potato genotypes for qualitative and quantitative characters, biotic reactions and starch contents as guide to improvement. The experiment which occupied a land areas of 75 m x 11 m was laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Twenty-nine characters were studied. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in all the quantitative characters. The genotype 87/OP/195 was superior in ten characters: root size, root form, longest storage roots (cm), resistance to weevils, number of established stands per plot, number of harvested stands per plot, number of commercial storage roots per plot, weight of commercial storage roots (kg), yield of commercial storage roots (tha^-1) and total storage root yield (tha^-1), followed by PGA 14442-1 in nine characters: root size, root form, resistance to leaf spot, number of non-commercial storage roots, weight of non-commercial storage roots (kg), yield of non-commercial storage roots (tha^-1), harvest index (%), yield of commercial storage roots (tha^-1) and total storage root yield (tha^-1), Butter milk was ranked second in commercial storage root number, third in weight of commercial storage roots (kg), weight of non-commercial storage roots (kg), resistance to weevils, yield of commercial storage roots (tha^-1) and total root storage yields (tha^-1). while PGA 14011-43 was rated fourth in resistance to sweet potato virus disease, number of commercial storage roots, weight of commercial storage roots (kg), non-commercial storage root yield (tha^-1) and total storage root yield(tha^-1). The four sweet potato genotypes were rich in β-carotene. The genotype, 87/OP/195 and PGA 14442 could be distributed to farmers in the area for cultivation while the four candidate genotypes could be incorporated into multi-location trials and improvement programmes to produce hybrid varieties for the area.