Genotype-by-harvesting studies in elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Dennst- Nicolson)

Abstract

Studies were carried out to assess the genetic divergence and estimate substantial variation and relationship among eleven cultivar of elephant foot yam of six quantitative traits, for best suitability in eastern parts of India.Analysis of variation for such quantitative traits in different cultivars showed considerable and dissimilar level of variability. The largest variation was found for months to maturity, polar diameter, equatorial diameter, plant height, plant width, pseudo-stem girth diameter and average fresh weight of corm. Average fresh weight, pseudo-stem girth diameter and pant height was highly significant correlated with cultivar and year, however plant height, equatorial and polar diameter was significantly correlated with cultivar and year. The ranges of morphological traits viz., Polar diameter 11.2-68.0 cm, Equatorial diameter 8.9-64.0 cm, pseudo-stem girth diameter 14.5-19.2, plant height 39.3-98.7 cm, plant width 96.4-126.0 cm and average fresh weight of corm 190.0-3462.5 g vary at different stages of harvesting. This information will provide researchers with the feasibility to develop desirable cultivars having high yield and better nutritional profile to uplift socio-economic status of vulnerable commodities of eastern parts of India.