COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF KENYA AND PACIFIC ISLANDS TAROGEN GERMPLASM COLLECTIONS COLOCASIA ESCULENTA L. (SCHOTT) AKWEE PE1, NETONDO G2, PALAPALA VA3

Abstract

Fifty accessions of taro germplasm collections Colocasia esculenta L. (Schott) were collected from Kenya and Pacific Islands tarogen germplasm collections. Twenty five accessions of Kenyan taro germplasm were collected from Western, Nyanza and Rift valley province. The taro germplasm were planted at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology main campus farm field station at Kakamega county (00O 17.30’ and 34o45’East GPS receiver) in western province of Kenya. The phenotypic characterization was based on the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute's (IPGRI) descriptors for Colocasia esculenta. The data was collected from both qualitative and quantitative traits. The phenotypic characteristics were classified into leaf and petiole characteristics. From the research study, the phenotype characters such as plant height, presence or absence of stolons, number of sucker holds the highest criteria to be selected towards improving the taro crop. These phenotypic characters are vital diagnostic features for distinguishing taro genotypes and they may serve as genetic bench markers that could facilitate selection of suitable germplasm variety for crop improvement in the country. Comparative assessment on the phenotypic characterization of the germplasm is a key guide to search for desirable traits that are important in crop productivity and breeding. This could lead to an increased understanding of the adaptation potential of taro in various ecological zones to enhance development of efficient and sustainable taro cultivation practices.