Abstract
The Hausa potato is a minor tuber crop with nutritional and medicinal values. A lack of balance between the photosynthetic source potential and the sink capacity in terms of dry matter accumulation and distribution is believed to affect fresh tuber yield. This study was aimed to investigate the dry matter production, distribution and tuber yield of reciprocal grafts of some accessions of the Hausa potato. The grafts were made in all possible combinations and laid out using the completely randomized design in four replicates. Results showed that harvest index increased with time in most of the grafts. The proportion of dry matter partitioned to the tubers was generally lower than those of the leaves and stems in all the grafts. The highest rootstock-scion ratio of 0.97 was observed in the graft Bokkos 2 - Manchok 2 while the lowest (0.07) was observed in the self-graft of Bokkos 2. Fresh tuber yield was generally low, ranging from 0.03 t ha -1 to 0.09 t ha-1. Apart from dry matter accumulation and distribution, the relationship between the source potential and sink capacity as well as the rate of translocation of assimilates from the photosynthetic source to the sink need to be investigated.
Highlights
The Hausa potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius [Poir) J
The dry matter accumulation increased with time in the leaves and stems in all the graft combinations except in the graftcombination involving the accessions Langtang as stock and Manchok 2 as scion (Langtang - Manchok 2)
The dry matter accumulation in the tubers increased with time in all graftcombinations but Langtang - Manchok 2 and the self-graft of NRCRI (White)
Summary
The Hausa potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius [Poir) J. K. Morton] is a small herbaceous annual crop with a distinctive fragrance and peculiar tuber taste (Alleman, 2002; PROTA, 2013). The leaves are used to treat dysentery, blood in urine and eye disorders. The tubers are eaten as a main starchy staple or part of it in combination with legumes, vegetables or cereals. The Hausa potato plays a very significant role in providing the dietary and energy requirements of the local people in Nigeria during lean periods. The crop is rich in major and minor nutrients and all the nutrients are reported to be essential for the proper functioning of the body (Kana et al, 2012)
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