Multivariate assessment of the agromorphological variability and yield components among sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) landraces

• DOI: 10.5897/ajps.9000176
• Publication Date: 2011-02-28
• Authors: S. O. Afuape; PI Okocha; Damian Njoku
• Keywords: Ipomoea; Genetic Variability

Understanding the nature and magnitude of variability existing among sweetpotato genetic materials for important traits is vital effective utilization such breeding purposes. Eighteen landraces from diverse origins, plus three released cultivars as checks, were evaluated in two contrasting locations, using nine agronomic eight morphological crop, to estimate materials, determine relationships traits, identify yield-related collections multivariate tools. The principal component analysis identified number marketable unmarketable roots, total weight root weights, incidence severity rootCylas spp., length biggest, medium smallest branches, well stand count at harvest that could be used differentiate landraces. canonical variate showed observed variation occurred mostly between-groups than within-groups, it was largely influenced by weight, roots. Generally, all except harvest, exhibited positive significant (P<0.01 P<0.001) correlation with (yield). Most also them. However, use forward selection multiple regression revealed roots most yield improve sweetpotato. Thus, our work existence inherent local germplasm collections, exploit variability, eliciting process.

Key words: Sweetpotato, analyses, components.