One of the major constraints in the Philippine banana chips industry is the lack of steady supply of raw materials for sustained production operation. The current cultivar, Saba, is tall and bears first fruits in almost two years after planting. This study was conducted to characterize the putative short-statured Saba germplasm assembled at the national repository, identify promising accessions based on agro-morphological traits, and evaluate their performance in replicated trials. Nineteen (19) Saba accessions were characterized morphologically using 17 qualitative and 17 quantitative descriptors. Characterization data revealed an intermediate genetic variation within the collection. The computed Shannon-Weaver diversity index ranged from 0.13 (pseudostem color) to 0.85 (wing type). Further analysis of the quantitative data grouped the accessions into six morphological clusters based on HCPC. Four promising lines were selected from the clusters formed, characterized by shorter plant height, shorter cropping period, and acceptable fruit and yield characters. The replicated evaluation trial of the selected accessions along with two check varieties revealed accession 09-063 as the most promising collection with the shortest plant height, earliest maturity, and with the plant crop's computed bunch weight per annum (BWPA) of 14.91 kg. Utilization of this accession in banana plantations, in combination with high-density planting, would provide a significant impact on yield, profit, and availability of raw Saba for direct consumption and processing.
Unfavorable weather in the Philippines leaves the sugarcane industry vulnerable to losses from flooded fields. A system of identification should be developed to supplement the country’s lack of sugarcane varieties tolerant to waterlogging. This study investigated the effect of waterlogging imposed during the early stalk elongation stage on sugarcane grown in contrasting soil types. In 2017–2018, two split-plot trials at the Institute of Plant Biology (IPB) University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños experimental area and UP La Granja (La Carlota City, Negros Occidental) evaluated the response of 10 high yielding varieties (HYVs) to flooding for 2 wk during stalk elongation stage [6 mo after planting (MAP)]. Waterlogged sugarcane varieties showed a location-dependent response in terms of projected ton cane per hectare (Tc ha–1) and sugar yield in 50-kg bags per hectare (Lkg ha–1). Waterlogging in the UP La Granja trial affected cane and sugar yield with Phil 2000-2569, Phil 2000-1419, Phil 2000-2155, and Phil 2003-1389 losing 22.3–35.8% in cane tonnage. The IPB trial showed no significant effect of waterlogging, primarily due to continuous reflooding. Geometric mean productivity (GMP) and stress tolerance index (STI) values confirm varietal productivity is location-dependent. Phil 2000-1419 and Phil 2000-2569 have the highest GMP and STI for the IPB trial and UP La Granja trial, respectively. GMP and STI models provide aid in selection for waterlogging tolerance.
The National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory maintains the largest in vitro germplasm collection of Dioscorea in the Philippines and has remained steadfast in its aim to safeguard accessions with potential use. Due to costly and time-consuming operations, most gene banks operate with the guidance of diversity assessments to measure the genetic integrity of one’s collection and design appropriate protocols for conservation. Diversity assessment under in vitro conditions remains unexplored even with the advantages of increased security and functionality in limited spaces. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity of the in vitro conservation response of yam germplasm collection of the country. Four Dioscorea species totaling 217 accessions were subjected to in vitro culture conditions. Parameters such as % surviving cultures, % shoot regeneration, and degree of tissue browning were analyzed using the Shannon-Weaver diversity index and cluster analysis. Assessment of initial culture establishment and regeneration responses revealed a high degree of variability. D. alata had the highest response in % surviving cultures and % shoot regeneration. Diversity analysis using the Shannon-Weaver index revealed high diversity among the species and differences in diversity within species. This high level of diversity can be attributed to the distribution of responses observed in the accessions of each species. This high genetic diversity observed in the in vitro cultured Dioscorea indicates the necessity for the development of several in vitro culture protocols to obtain optimum responses for regeneration, conservation, and other in vitro applications.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.