Abstract
Evaluation of intra specific variability is a key step toward conservation and sustainable use of species. This study was carried out to describe the morphotypes of Solenostemon rotundifolius (Lamiaceae) based on quantitative traits. Three accessions (E02, E35 and E20), representing the morphotypes “A”, “B” and “C” were characterised in Randomised Complete Block Design with three replications. Twenty-four (24) traits related to the cycle, the canopy size, the production and the tuber size were measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant difference of the morphotypes (at level P = 0.05 or 0.01) in the traits related to the canopy and leaf size, the crop cycle, the production and the tuber size. The morphotype “A” was identified to be the most promising one. It was early maturing (107 to 113 days) and the most productive (134.98 g per plant). The cycle of the morphotypes “B” and “C” varied from 154 to 164 days and 118 to 149 days and tuber weight per plant was 46.03 and 45.17 g, respectively. This work is a step toward a full description of the morphotypes of S. rotundifolius. It provided a useful list of quantitative traits that can be used as descriptors for future description of genetic resources of S. rotundifolius and for breeding purposes. Key words: Breeding, genetic resources, Lamiaceae, tuber, variability. 
Highlights
plant height (PHe): Plant height; CDi: canopy diameter; CCi: canopy circumference; CSL: central stem length; ILe: internodal length; NIn: number of internodes; LWi: leaf width; LLe: leaf length; LRa: leaf ratio; DFS: days to first spike initiation; days to spike initiation (DSI): days to 50% spike initiation; DLS: days to last spike initiation; DFM: days to first maturity; days to maturity (DMa): days to 50% maturity; DLM: days to last maturity; TNT: total number of tubers; NST: number of small tubers; NMT: number of medium tubers (16 < d ≤ 26 mm); NLT : number of large tubers (d > 26 mm); WeT: weight per tuber; TLe: tuber length; TDi: tuber diameter; TWP: tubers weight per plant; PST: percentage of small tubers. *Correlation significant at P < 0.01
Some traits such as plant height, length of branches, size of leaves, internodal distance, number of tubers, tubers weight, tuber length and tuber diameter were used in a comparative analysis of varieties of Plectranthus esculentus and S. rotundifolius and revealed significant inter specific variability (Agyeno et al, 2014)
This study successfully described morphometric variability between three morphotypes (“A”, “B” and “C”) of S. rotundifolius identified on the basis of tuber skin colour
Summary
Morton] or frafra potato is one of the most widespread Lamiaceae It is cultivated as a tuber crop in many African countries including Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Togo (in West Africa), Cameroon and Chad (in Central Africa) and some parts of South and East Africa (Schippers, 2000; Gouado et al, 2003; Sugri et al, 2013). The tubers contain significant amount of reducing sugars (25 mg), proteins (14.6 mg), phosphorus (36 mg), calcium (29 mg) and vitamins A and C (13.6 and 10.3 mg) (Anbuselvi and Balamurugan, 2013). They are consumed as a curry, baked or fried
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