Genetic variability in tannia, Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott

Abstract

The variation in a number of agronomic characteristics including plant height, leaf number and colour, flowering behaviour, corm and cormel yield and quality and susceptibility to dasheen mosaic virus, was studied in 100 tannia plants established from seed and grown under field conditions. The results indicate that a considerable degree of genetic variability exists within the cultivar used and strongly support the suggestion that there is considerable potential for improvement of this crop through breeding and selection.