No abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Southeastern Nigeria during the 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons to evaluate diversity among F1 population of sweet potato, namely: Sauti × 442162 (6), Ligri × Faara (17), Sauti × Bohye (17), including two checks (Umuspo 3 and TIS 87/0087). This experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates under rainfed condition. Data on fresh storage root yield were recorded at 120 days after planting. Analysis of variance, correlation and principal component analysis were utilized for data analysis. The study revealed that yield of fresh storage root showed significant differences (P< 0.05) among the sweet potato genotypes. Sauti X Bohye produced the highest storage root yield (19.33 t/ha) in 2015 and performed better than the national check TIS 87/0087 that recorded a storage root yield of 10.84 t/ha. The result from the study showed that out of the forty genotypes evaluated, twenty-six (26) genotypes recorded attack of C. puncticollis. The extent of the damge recorded among the genotypes attacked by C. puncticollis ranged from severe damage to little damage among the genotypes that recorded fresh storage root damage. SautiXBohye/11, SautiXBohye/13, SautiXBohye/17 recorded severe damage caused by C. puncticollis while LigriXFaara/15 recorded moderate damaged caused by C. puncticollis. Fifteen (15) genotypes did not record any infestation by Cylas puncticollis. All characters except unmarketable storage root weight at harvest exhibited positive and significant (P< 0.01) correlation with total roots weight (yield). Principal component analysis had three main principal components explaining 84.25% of the total variation with number of marketable roots, weight of marketable roots, storage root yield and Cylas incidence contributing the most to the first PCA. These genotypes could possess resistance genes to Cylas puncticollis and these genotypes could be incorporated in breeding programs for further trail.

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth and yield characteristics of plantain varieties in the humid rain forest zone of Nigeria. The research was conducted at the University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of various plantain varieties with a view to identify high yielding genotypes. The planting material used for this study were the following varieties - 4479-1, 7152-2, Agbagba, Akpakpak, Mbiegome and a local cultivar called “Ogoni Red” obtained from the iInternational iInstitute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Onne, River State. Data collected on shoot and bunch yields characters were statistically assessed by analysis of variance. The growth characters showed significant variations among the plantain varieties. Plant height at 32 weeks after planting showed that variety 4479-1 recorded the highest height, 4.09 m while Agbagba and Mbiegome had heights 3.21 m and 3.07 m, respectively. The bunch characteristics measured after harvesting were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) among the varieties. The bunch weight differed significantly (P < 0.05) amongst the varieties. The result showed that the yield (bunch weight) for Mbiegome was 10.55 kg, followed by 4479-1 with 10.28 kg., while 7152-2, Ogoni red and Agbagba varieties recorded 07.68 kg, 04.11 kg and 09.5 kg, respectively. In this study, variety Mbiegome outperformed other varieties in terms of yield and yield components apart from the finger thickness and length and is therefore recommended to promotion in Akwa Ibom State.

Six orange-fleshed sweetpotato genotypes, namely, Naspot-12, Umuspo-1, Lourdes, Erica, Delvia and umuspo-3, sourced from National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike were evaluated for fresh storage root yield, dry matter, starch and Beta-carotene content in 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Uyo. The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance, correlation and principal component analysis were performed for yield and yield related traits while standard procedure was followed to determine dry matter, starch and beta-carotene content. In this study, results from the analysis of variance showed that the six orange-fleshed sweetpotato genotypes differed significantly (P≤ 0.05) in number of marketable roots, weight of marketable roots and fresh storage roots yield. Umuspo-3 produced the highest storage root yield (28.78t/ha, 27.55t/ha) in 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons, respectively. The result of the correlation analysis also revealed that number of marketable roots and weight of marketable were highly significantly and positively (P< 0.01) correlated with fresh root yield. Principal component analysis (PCA) had two main principal components explaining 70.25% of the total variation with number of marketable roots, weight of marketable tuber and storage root yield contributing the most to the first PCA. Umuspo-3 recorded the highest dry matter content of 42.78%. Lourdes had the highest starch content, 65.23mg100g -1 while Umuspo-3 had the lowest starch content, 24.55mg100 -1 . Beta-carotene content of the six OFSP genotypes ranged from 1.03mg/100g FW to 9.19mg/100g FW. Umuspo-3 recorded a Beta-carotene content of 9.19 mg/100g FW.Umuspo-3 genotype could be recommended for cultivation in Uyo agro-ecology for high yield and as an excellent source of beta-carotene, it could be consumed to ameliorate vitamin A deficiency in children and pregnancy women within the State and its environs.

Ten sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) genotypes sourced from National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike were evaluated under rainfed condition in 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State to ascertain variability among ten sweet potato genotypes and identify traits which are positively and significantly associated with yield and also identify genotypes with high yield potential for cultivation on an ultisol of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The ten genotypes: TIS87/0087, Naspoy-12, Umuspo-4, Umuspo-1, Naspoy-11, Lourdes, Erica, Delvia, Ex-Igbariam and Umuspo-3 were used as treatments and the experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance, correlation and principal component analysis. The genotype differs significantly (P≤ 0.05) for number of marketable roots, weight of marketable roots and fresh roots yield. UMUSPO-3 was superior over all the other genotypes for the following character; number of marketable roots, weight of marketable root yield and fresh root yield. Umuspo-3 produced the highest storage root yield (28.78t/ha, 27.09t/ha) in 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons, respectively. The result of the correlation analysis also revealed that vine length, number of marketable roots, weight of marketable were highly significantly and positively (P<0.01) correlated with fresh root yield. Principal component analysis (PCA) had four main principal components explaining 81.55% of the total variation with number of marketable roots, weight of marketable tuber and storage root yield contributing the most to the first PCA. Umuspo-3 outperformed the other nine sweet potato genotypes in yield and yield related characters. Therefore, Umuspo-3 been a high yielding genotype adaptable to Uyo agro-ecology, could be recommended to sweet potato growers for fresh storage root production.