ISHS Acta Horticulturae 380: Symposium on Tropical Root Crops in a Developping Economy
ALAFUA SUNRISE AND SAMOA HYBRID IMPROVE THE PRODUCTION OF TARO (COLOCASIA ESCULENTA [L] SCHOTT) IN THE PACIFIC |
| Authors: | Jill E. Wilson, P. Sivan, C. Munroe |
| Abstract:
Samoa hybrid and Alafua Sunrise are the first two improved cultivars of taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) released from breeding programs based on selecting seedling-derived clones from sexually propagated populations. They clearly demonstrate that breeding techniques developed during the past 15 yr, when applied in conventional breeding programs, can produce improved cultivars acceptable to farmers. In trials, Samoa hybrid yielded 50% more corm fresh weight than traditional cultivars. This cultivars performed equally well in well-drained and poorly-drained soils with improved plant vigor and suckering. Alafua sunrise outyielded the popular local cultivar Niue by 13–50% in most trials with the greatest advantage under drought and low soil fertility. Alafua Sunrise had less symptoms of Dasheen mosaic virus than local cultivars, and produced an adequate number of suckers, with improved plant vigor and rapid early growth. Farmers indicated that the less-preferred, yellow fresh and eating quality of Alafua sunrise were offset by its impressive vigor and yields. Corms were successfully test-marketed in local and export markets. Samoa hybrid and Alafua Sunrise have been multiplied and distributed to farmers in Fiji, Western, and American Samoa, respectively, and also supplied as pathogen-free, in vitro plantlets to other countries in the South Pacific. | |
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