Two new cassava starch clones, Rayong 90 and OMR 36-05-24

S.L. Tan

Abstract

Cassava seed and meristem tissue culture introductions were made from CIAT over the period 1983–1994, and evaluation and selection was carried out on the resulting clones up to the year 2000. From the scheduled evaluation scheme, two clones were found to be promising for starch, having both reasonably high root yields and moderately high starch contents. In a final yield trial, these clones, Rayong 90 and OMR 36-05-24, produced higher fresh root yields (32–37 t/ha) than the standard starch variety, Black Twig (28 t/ha) after 12 months. Although their root yields were only equivalent to the earlier MARDI varieties (Perintis and MM 92) both Rayong 90 and OMR 36-05-24 had significantly higher starch contents (27%) than the MARDI varieties as well as Black Twig (21–25%). These clones may help boost productivity in the current cassava farms which are declining in number.

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