A main characteristic of sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas(L.) Lam.] is its high phenotypic and genotypic variability. There is no, or limited, information on suitability of agro-morphological characteristics for utilization in production and processing. Currrently, farmers are growing different sweet potato genotypes characterized with low yield. The aim of the study was to evaluate agro-morphological characteristics of 68 sweet potato genotypes in order to determine the best performing ones. The sweet potato genotypes were grown at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization and the Embu and Miyare Agriculture Training College. The locations were chosen because they are the main sweet potato producing areas with different climatic and production conditions. Six storage root and five aerial characters were used in the characterization. The genotypes differed in storage root stalk and root length; vine internode length and vine internode growth rate; petiole length and leaf size, and yield at both sites. Genotype Nyautenge was the best performing in terms of storage root yield. There was poor correlation among agro-morphological attributes. The study demonstrates the potential of some sweet potato genotypes such as Nyautenge for high productivity.
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is one of the most widely grown root crops worldwide. In Africa, it is grown in small plots by poorer farmers. Production of the crop is extremely low in Kenya as compared to other African countries due to the existence of common insect pests. Sweet potato weevil (Cylas spp.) is known as the biggest pit fall for production and productivity of the crop in the country. This study sought to determine the opinion of sweet potato farmers concerning sweet potato resistance to Cylas spp. and determine control strategies employed by sweet potato farmers in managing the pest. The study also sought to determine the sweet potato production constraints faced by the farmers in Homa Bay County, Kenya. The study was conducted using a Participatory Rural Appraisal approach in which 269 farmers in the County were interviewed on the sweet potato varieties with field resistance to Cylas spp., the crops' production constraints (with emphasis on damage by Cylas spp.) and farmers' control strategies in regard to the weevil. Data were also collected from the farmers whose sample size was determined using the table on sample size selection and standardization equation. Data were analysed using descriptive statistical techniques that were frequencies, percentages and standard errors. The study established that majority of the farmers from Rachuonyo (89.7%) and Ndhiwa (91.9%) were not aware of any variety that had field resistance to Cylas spp. However, 10.5% of the farmers in Rachuonyo and 8.1% of the farmers in Ndhiwa identified nine varieties which have shown relative field resistance to root damage by Cylas spp. The varieties that were identified to be resistant to Cylas spp. by farmers in Rachuonyo were Kalamb Nyerere, Tombra, Sinia, Odinga, Kemb 10, Wera and Zapallo. However, the varieties that were identified to be resistant to Cylas spp. by farmers in Ndhiwa were Amina, Mugande and Ndege Oyiejo. Further, the findings revealed that Cylas spp. was the most problematic pest by 90.3% and 96.8% of households in Rachuonyo and Ndhiwa, respectively. Majority (64.5%) of the farmers in Ndhiwa did not use any methods to manage Cylas spp. However, farmers in Rachuonyo (26.2%) and Ndhiwa (15.3%) preferred re-ridging during weeding as a management strategy in regard to Cylas spp. These findings reiterate the importance of the sweet potato weevil in rural sweet potato farming systems and thus innovative management strategies are necessary.
A comprehensive analysis of the variation in sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] is essential for sound germplasm conservation and recommendation strategies for production and consumption. The study evaluated biochemical content of 68 sweetpotato genotypes grown at the Miyare Agriculture Training College and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Embu, Kenya. Ten storage root and seven aerial traits were used in the characterization. Storage root dry matter, protein and total carotenoids contents were all higher at the Miyare Agriculture Training College site compared to the Embu site; storage root sucrose and total starch content were higher in Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Embu, compared to the Miyare Agriculture Training College. Dry matter content ranged from 22.9% to 41.7%, protein content ranged from 5.2% to 13.4%, total carotenoids content ranged from 5.9 µg•g -1 to 33.1 µg•g -1 , sucrose content ranged from 11.0 mg kg -1 to 108.5 mg kg -1 , and total starch ranged from 9.1 mg kg -1 to 97.6 mg kg -1 . The study demonstrates varying biochemical characteristics in sweetpotato, depending on genotypes and location. Selecting and improving sweetpotato genotypes rich in biochemical contents could help to solve the problem of food security and nutrition, especially in developing countries.
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