Adapting sweetpotato production to changing climate in Mozambique
Vines are the major source of planting material in sweetpotato. Extended dry spells hinder conservation of vines and in turn affect the availability of planting material at the onset of rains in southern Africa. In some cases, improved sweetpotato germplasm has been lost by smallholder farmers in Mo...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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De Gruyter
2018-05-01
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| Series: | Open Agriculture |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2018-0012 |
| _version_ | 1818583778202746880 |
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| author | Makunde Godwill S. Andrade Maria I. Menomussanga Joana Grüneberg Wolfgang |
| author_facet | Makunde Godwill S. Andrade Maria I. Menomussanga Joana Grüneberg Wolfgang |
| author_sort | Makunde Godwill S. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vines are the major source of planting material in sweetpotato. Extended dry spells hinder conservation of vines and in turn affect the availability of planting material at the onset of rains in southern Africa. In some cases, improved sweetpotato germplasm has been lost by smallholder farmers in Mozambique due to prolonged dry spells. Small to medium roots provide an opportunity to conserve germplasm and get planting material at the beginning of the rainy season. The objectives of the study were to (i) measure sprouting ability of diverse germplasm of sweetpotato - farmer varieties, improved clones and released varieties and (ii) estimate their ability to provide planting material for the next crop in southern Mozambique. Trials with 29 genotypes were established in a randomized complete block design with two replications at Umbeluzi Research Station and Nwalate Farm in 2015, 2016 and 2017. At harvest, 14 small to medium roots were selected and stored in small plastic dishes filled with dry sand at Nwalate Farm. After four months in storage, 10 similar roots were taken and planted in 1 m row plots arranged in a randomized complete block design with two replications. The trials were irrigated to initiate sprouting and support plant growth during the first four weeks. Data collected were analysed using SAS 1996. All the tested genotypes sprouted after sowing. The number of sprouts per root were significantly affected by the genotype, location and genotype x location x year interactions. Caelan had the most sprouts per root. Sprout length measured at six weeks after sprouting was also significantly affected by genotype, location, year and genotype x location x year interactions. Caelan had vines each long enough to provide 10 cuttings of 10 cm length for rapid multiplication. The number of cuttings depended on the growth habit of the variety. Irene, a popular variety in Mozambique, is erect and bushy and could only provide four cuttings over the same period. Growth habit especially under a changing climate should be considered in breeding programs as an option of facilitating a sustainable and easy seed system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T08:10:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fdbdd0d6e4154f18a9c1d989c9e26bb6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2391-9531 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T08:10:41Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | De Gruyter |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-fdbdd0d6e4154f18a9c1d989c9e26bb62022-12-21T22:38:22ZengDe GruyterOpen Agriculture2391-95312018-05-013112213010.1515/opag-2018-0012opag-2018-0012Adapting sweetpotato production to changing climate in MozambiqueMakunde Godwill S.0Andrade Maria I.1Menomussanga Joana2Grüneberg Wolfgang3International Potato Center, Av. FPLM 2698, Maputo, MozambiqueInternational Potato Center, Av. FPLM 2698, Maputo, MozambiqueInternational Potato Center, Av. FPLM 2698, Maputo, MozambiqueInternational Potato Center, Av. La Molina 1895, La Molina, Lima, PeruVines are the major source of planting material in sweetpotato. Extended dry spells hinder conservation of vines and in turn affect the availability of planting material at the onset of rains in southern Africa. In some cases, improved sweetpotato germplasm has been lost by smallholder farmers in Mozambique due to prolonged dry spells. Small to medium roots provide an opportunity to conserve germplasm and get planting material at the beginning of the rainy season. The objectives of the study were to (i) measure sprouting ability of diverse germplasm of sweetpotato - farmer varieties, improved clones and released varieties and (ii) estimate their ability to provide planting material for the next crop in southern Mozambique. Trials with 29 genotypes were established in a randomized complete block design with two replications at Umbeluzi Research Station and Nwalate Farm in 2015, 2016 and 2017. At harvest, 14 small to medium roots were selected and stored in small plastic dishes filled with dry sand at Nwalate Farm. After four months in storage, 10 similar roots were taken and planted in 1 m row plots arranged in a randomized complete block design with two replications. The trials were irrigated to initiate sprouting and support plant growth during the first four weeks. Data collected were analysed using SAS 1996. All the tested genotypes sprouted after sowing. The number of sprouts per root were significantly affected by the genotype, location and genotype x location x year interactions. Caelan had the most sprouts per root. Sprout length measured at six weeks after sprouting was also significantly affected by genotype, location, year and genotype x location x year interactions. Caelan had vines each long enough to provide 10 cuttings of 10 cm length for rapid multiplication. The number of cuttings depended on the growth habit of the variety. Irene, a popular variety in Mozambique, is erect and bushy and could only provide four cuttings over the same period. Growth habit especially under a changing climate should be considered in breeding programs as an option of facilitating a sustainable and easy seed system.https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2018-0012droughtseed systemsproutingstorage rootssweetpotato |
| spellingShingle | Makunde Godwill S. Andrade Maria I. Menomussanga Joana Grüneberg Wolfgang Adapting sweetpotato production to changing climate in Mozambique Open Agriculture drought seed system sprouting storage roots sweetpotato |
| title | Adapting sweetpotato production to changing climate in Mozambique |
| title_full | Adapting sweetpotato production to changing climate in Mozambique |
| title_fullStr | Adapting sweetpotato production to changing climate in Mozambique |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adapting sweetpotato production to changing climate in Mozambique |
| title_short | Adapting sweetpotato production to changing climate in Mozambique |
| title_sort | adapting sweetpotato production to changing climate in mozambique |
| topic | drought seed system sprouting storage roots sweetpotato |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2018-0012 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT makundegodwills adaptingsweetpotatoproductiontochangingclimateinmozambique AT andrademariai adaptingsweetpotatoproductiontochangingclimateinmozambique AT menomussangajoana adaptingsweetpotatoproductiontochangingclimateinmozambique AT grunebergwolfgang adaptingsweetpotatoproductiontochangingclimateinmozambique |