Correlation studies on the performance of some cassava verieties at five locations

S.L. Tan

Abstract

Of the 16 cassava varieties tested in six sites at five locations, Black Twig, Medan and Bangkok were shown to be highly adaptable, each emerging among the five top yielding varieties in five out of six sites. yields were highest at one of the two sites at Serdang, and lowest at Pontian where crop growth was generally inferior. The peat sites, Jalan Kebun and Pontian, produced roots with relatively lower starch contents than roots on the mineral soil sites at Serdang, Sitiawan and Bukit Selambau. Correlation studies among the sites revealed strong repeatability of yield (fresh root and starch) among mineral soil sites and among peat sites. It appears, therefore, that initial stages of selection and short-listing of high yielding clones destined for current and potential cassava production areas may be confined to one site located on mineral soils and another on peat. This would preclude the expensive practice of preliminary evaluation of clones over a wide range of environments. Germination was also related among the sites on mineral soils, but not at all on the peat sites. It would appear that high starch content may be selected for at any location since it is highly correlated among all the sites tested: an indication of its highly repeatable performance.

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