Evaluation of Vegetative Growth, Yield and Quality Related Traits in Taro (Colocasia esculenta [L.] Schott).

Abstract

Taro (Colocasia esculenta [L.] Schott) breeders apply heavy selection pressure on yield during the seminal (F1) and first clonal (C1) generations. However, the genetic gain achieved with this practice has never been evaluated and prior accurate assessment of the genetic control of the traits under selection is required. The present study aimed at evaluating broad‐sense heritability, between‐trait and between‐generation correlations, and genetic gain for traits related to vegetative growth, yield, and corm quality. A fully randomized‐block trial consisting of 13 full‐sib families (1890 genotypes) was set up and measured in F1 and C1 generations. ANOVAs were performed with mixed models, considering spatial autocorrelations when necessary. Chi‐square tests revealed the stability of the presence or absence of stolons, suckers, and inflorescences between F1 and C1, suggesting strong genetic control for such organs. Highly fitted models resulted in particularly accurate predicted genetic values. Heritability and genetic gain computations assumed unbalanced data and gave rather high values. The number of stolons, the number of suckers, fresh corm weight, and dry matter content were found to be the most heritable traits. Mass and family selection strategies were tested and revealed moderate to high genetic gain for most heritable traits in both generations. Selection indexes such as the vegetative growth index and future breeding strategies are discussed. Results could be of interest for breeding in other aroid crops.

A high‐quality genome of taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott), one of the world's oldest crops

“…In the last two decades, the research on taro genetic mainly focused on diversity analysis and genetic mapping, using various markers (Das, Das, Pradhan, & Naskar, 2015; Nath et al, 2014; Quero‐García et al., 2006; Soulard, Mournet, Guitton, & Chaïr, 2017). However, the study of taro genomics has been limited by its relatively large genome size and high heterozygosity (Kokubugata & Konishi, 1999; Soulard et al, 2016). Although the Araceae family comprises approximately 110 genera and more than 3,500 species (Li et al, 2010), the Spirodela polyrhiza (An et al., 2019) genome (158 M), the first assembled to a high‐quality chromosome‐level draft using long‐read sequencing data, provided valuable information for further deciphering other Araceae species.…”

“…has been limited by its relatively large genome size and high heterozygosity (Kokubugata & Konishi, 1999;Soulard et al, 2016). Although the Araceae family comprises approximately 110 genera and more than 3,500 species (Li et al, 2010), the Spirodela polyrhiza (An et al, 2019) genome (158 M), the first assembled to a high-quality chromosome-level draft using long-read sequencing data, provided valuable information for further deciphering other Araceae species.…”

Adapting clonally propagated crops to climatic changes: a global approach for taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott)

“…This multi criteria index combines the measurements of the number of suckers, stolons, the plant height, leaf length and width to predict the yield of the plant. The correlation analysis between individual plants in F1 and C1, has confirmed the suitability of VGI as a corm yield prediction tool for screening hundreds of hybrids (Soulard et al 2016). In several countries (Madagascar, PNG, Vanuatu), the VGI has been shown to be a practical and efficient tool.…”

“…Statistical tests revealed the stability of the presence or absence of stolons, suckers, and inflorescences between F1 and C1, suggesting strong genetic control for such traits. The number of stolons, the number of suckers, fresh corm weight, and dry matter content were found to be the most heritable traits, indicating that breeders should focus on those for eliminating undesirable hybrids in early clonal generations (Soulard et al 2016).…”

De novo assembly and characterization of transcriptome and microsatellite marker development for Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott.)

“…This plant originates from tropical Asia and America, and has been cultivated and utilized as food source and a medicinal herb in China for 2,000 years, which is also the fourteenth most consumed vegetable worldwide as a staple source of diets with high yield and nutritional value for people around the world (Ramanatha et al, 2010). Until now, researches on C. esculenta mainly focus on the biological characteristics, morphological variations, resistance and economic performance (Ahmed et al, 2013;Hunt et al, 2013;Nath et al, 2014;Das and Das, 2014;Das et al, 2015;Doungous et al, 2015;Soulard et al, 2016;Oliveira et al, 2017).…”