Diversity of Taro (<i>Colocasia esculenta</i>) Germplasm in Northern Sulawesi Based on Phenotypic Characteristics

Abstract

North Sulawesi is a major producer of 'bete' Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott). Taro has beneficial economic value as an excellent source of carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and fibre. Taro contains low-calorie foods that can be an alternative consumption as a substitute for rice and become and can normalize sugar for people with diabetes. This study aims to determine the diversity of taro germplasm in North Sulawesi using morphometric characters. This study was conducted from April – October 2022. Explorative and interview-based research exploratively in four districts/cities: Minahasa Regency, South Minahasa, Talaut Islands and Tomohon City. Sampling characterization using a purposive sampling method. Cluster analysis with the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) was utilized for the analysis of the similarity level data. The results of the qualitative analysis revealed that there were two large groups (I and II). In cluster I, seven accessions was all purple taro, whereas in cluster II, there were fourteen white taro accessions. Group I consists of accession numbers 5 and 6 (Talaut Island) and accession numbers 7, 8, 13, 16 and 17 (South Minahasa Regency). Group II consists of accessions numbered 1,2,3,4, 19, 20, and 21 (Tondano) and accession numbers 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15 (Tomohon) and accession number 18 (South Minahasa). The similarity analysis revealed that taro accessions in North Sulawesi have a similarity level of between 33,3 and 100 percent.