Responses of four sweet potato cultivars to levels of shade: 2. Tuberization

Authors

  • Laura B. Roberts-Nkrumah Department of Crop Science, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad
  • Lawrence A. Wilson Department of Crop Science, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad
  • Theodore U. Ferguson Department of Crop Science, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad

Keywords:

Sweet potato cultivars, Shade, Tuberization

Abstract

The tuberization responses of four sweet potato cultivars to shade during the first eight weeks of growth were compared. Tuber fresh weight was not affected in 25% shade, but in 55% shade values were noticeably lower, and in 73% shade tuberization was almost completely suppressed in all cultivars. The responses resulted from slower tuber growth in 55% shade and from delayed tuber initiation and slower tuber growth in 73% shade. The major cultivar differences observed were that two cultivars had fewer thick roots, lower potential and percentage tuberization indices and fewer and smaller tubers in 55 and 73% shade than the other two; the latter demonstrated greater capacity for tuber initiation and tuber growth even in 73% shade and thus appeared to be more shade-tolerant than the former in early growth.

Issue

Section

Research Papers