Physiology of cassava cultivation in the tropical dry forest of Sucre - Colombia

Abstract

The species M. esculenta presents great genetic variability that makes its study difficult because it must be evaluated not only for its varietal behavior but also for its response to the environment where it occurs. For this research, the physiological behavior of cassava was evaluatedin three of the most cultivated varieties in the department of Sucre: MCOL 2066 (Chirosa: industrial and edible use), MCOL 2215 (Venezolana: edible use) and M- Tai 8 (M-Tai: industrial use), under the environmental offer of the tropical dry forest, a randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Plant height (AP), stem diameter (DT), number of leaves (NH), diameter of tuberous roots (DR), photosynthesis (PN), stomatal conductance (GS), transpiration (E), accumulation and distribution were evaluated. dry mass and harvest index (CI). The evaluations were carried out at 90, 270, 315 and 360 days after sowing (DDS). The M-Tai variety presented the most favorable results, an earlier growth and development in the first stages of the crop (90 DDS) expressed in a larger size and greater accumulation of biomass with an average of 198.51 gr of dry matter. At crop date 270, 315 and 360 DDS no differences were observed between variables of gas exchange and biomass accumulation and distribution, presenting average values of 130 mmol H2O m-2 s-1, 17.87 μmoles CO2m-2 s-1 and 1.99 mmol H2O m-2 s-1 for GS, PN and E respectively, and with values around 55% for IC.

Keywords

• manihot esculenta crantz
• phenotype
• gaseous exchange
• morphology