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| Authors: | J.W. Irungu, G.M. Karanja, M. Gethi, H.M. Kidanemariam |
Abstract:
Before acquiring unknown exotic germplasm, it is advisable, as a good short-term improvement strategy, to assemble and systematically assess the potential of local genetic resources.
Between 1987 and 1988, over 100 different accessions of sweet potato were collected from the farmers' field in the Central Province of Kenya.
These landraces were iniatially evaluated at the Embu station of the Kenya agricultural Research Institute.
After the third cycle of evaluation, 20 promising varieties were selected based on their storage root yeilds, Horticultural features, and quality characteristics.
Since sweet potato foliage is fed to livestock in Kenya, it was also important to assess the foliage yeild of each variety as one of the major selection criteria.
The promising varieties were furthereveluated in replicated trials both under irrigation and rain-fed conditions at several locations in 1989 and 1990. Analysis of the data indicated that there were significant variation between varieties in yeild and other characteristics.
Some of the varieties gave very high storage root yeilds, as well as vine yeilds especially when irrigated.
However, most of the variesties produced much more vines than storage roots. the inverse relationship between storage roots yeild and vine yeild was also evident in some of the varieties.
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