Evaluation of Some Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) Accessions for Growth and Yield Potentials in Jos-Plateau Environment

Abstract

The orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) contains -carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A, which is used to address hunger and blindness in children. Therefore, there is the need to promote the cultivation and consumption of the OFSP. In this study, twelve accessions of the orange-fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.), namely F2M5/3, Ng – Jay, MD, F1M1/4, ELINDA, SOUL, AI2IB, TIS. 87/0087/08, KWARA/00, F1M4/11, SOLO – 1/100 and SOLO – 1/144, were screened to evaluate their growth and yield potentials in the Jos-Plateau environment in Nigeria between July and November, 2016. The study was carried out at the potato sub-station of the National Root Crops Research Institute,Kuru, Plateau State (Latitude 09°44’N, Longitude 08° 47’E, Altitude 1,293.3 m above sea level). The twelve accessions were laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Results showed that establishment rate ranged from 97.8 % in the accession SOUL to 30 % in the accession AI2IB. The leaf area index increased with time up to 90 DAP and thereafter decreased in all the accessions. The relative growth rate decreased with time in all accessions.The net assimilation rate (NAR) increased with time up to 90 DAP and thereafter decreased in all but accessions F2M5/3, MD, ELINDA, F1M4/11, SOLO – 1/100 and SOLO – 1/144, where NAR increased up to 120 DAP. The mean number of tubers per plant, tuber length, tuber girth and dry matter content varied with accession. Root-top ratio was highest in the accession Ng-Jay (3.93) and lowest in the accession AI2IB (0.69). Harvest index increased with time up to 120 DAP in all the accessions. Total tuber yield was highest in the accession Ng-Jay (8.2 t/ha) and lowest in the accession ELINDA (2.0 t/ha). The OFSP accessions used in this study showed promising potentials for high yields in the Jos-Plateau environment. They are, therefore, recommended for further screening and selection.