Identification of high yield clones of abaca (Musa textilis nee) mutants based on morphological characters

Abstract

Abaca (Musa textilis Nee) is one of fiber crops which produced fiber as raw materials of rope ships and high quality papers. Improvement of abaca new varieties needs sufficient genetic materials so the expected new varieties can be produced. Abaca is normally multiplied clonally, so abaca has narrow genetic diversity. To increase genetic diversity of abaca, the chemical mutation by ethylmethane sulphonate (EMS) was done. ISFCRI has completed chemical mutation on abaca accessions Sangihe I and Tangongon. Twenty six abaca mutants were planted in Cobanrondo experimental station in Malang, at 1,450 m above sea level. Each mutant genotype was planted in a clump, with three meter spacing between clumps. Based on morphological character studies, chemical mutation of abaca Sangihe I and Tangongon clones using 0.6% EMS increased the variability of stalk number character (CV 91%). All quantitative characters observed have positive and significant correlation to weight of dry leaves sheats as indicator of fibre production character. Meanwhile, the qualitative characters diversity was not raised by chemical mutation. Eight mutant clones indicated superiority and potential to be improved as high yield clones of abaca i.e. Clone 3: Sh 1.1.1-2, Clone 6: Sh 4.1.2-2, Clone 11: FK Sh 1.1-3-6, Clone 15: Tg 3.1-2, Clone 17: Tg 59.2-7, Clone 26: Tg 70.2.3-7, Clone 13: FK Sh 1.1.3-10, and Clone 18: Tg 59.2-8.

Keywords

• Diversity
• germplasm
• abaca
• mutant
• ethylmethane sulphonate