Oselebe, H.O. and Okporie E. O.

Department of Crop Production & Landscape Management, Ebonyi State University,  Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Corresponding Author: Oselebe, H.O., Department of Crop Production & Landscape Management, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Six Dioscorea alata genotypes were evaluated alongside a popular cultivar in the locality for yield and yield components in 2004 and 2005 at the Department of Crop Production & Landscape Management, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Results indicated significant effects of genotype, cropping season and their interaction on most of the traits studied. Genotypes with potentials for multiple-tubering were identified. The genotype, TDa 98/01176 produced the highest total number of tubers, number of ware tubers and number of seed tubers per plot. Similarly, TDa 98/01176 had the highest total fresh tuber yield. The lowest values for these traits were obtained for Okwalenkata, a landrace genotype. The genotypes performed better in 2004 than in the 2005 cropping season, and three genotypes TDa 9801176, TDa 98/01169 and TDa 98/01166 had the most stable yield across the two cropping seasons. The tuber yields of these genotypes were higher than the mean yield of all the genotypes.

Key word:  Dioscorea alata, genotypes, cropping season, evaluation, yield components