The growth performance of taro (Colocasia esculenta) grown from true seed. (13)

Abstract

Taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] seedlings derived from two naturally pollinated inflorescences (Ph15 and Ph17) were grown to maturity. The growth performance of the seedlings was found to be equal to, or better than, the vegetatively-propagated parent plants. The seedlings had greater leaf lamina length and width, leaf area, petiole length, and had more leaves and suckers than the parent plants. The corm yields of all the seedlings as a group were also similar to, or greater than, the parent plants. However, the corm yield of the taro seedlings that showed resistance to taro leaf blight was significantly greater than the parents and the seedlings that were susceptible to taro leaf blight. The seedlings were also a source of considerable variation in parameters such as leaf and petiole colour, type of suckers, and the incidence of infections of taro leaf blight. This variation within the seedlings illustrate the importance of the production of sexually derived seedlings in breeding and selection programmes.