Growth and Yield Parameters of Two Cameroon Improved Potato Varieties as Influenced by Seed Size

Abstract

Potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i> L.) is one of the most important vegetable crop in the world and it is fourth among food crops after rice, wheat and maize. Potato is widely cultivated for its cheap source of carbohydrates, vitamins (B<sub>1</sub> and C) as well as minerals. In Cameroon, where potato provides a livelihood for most producers, especially in the Western highland, production is challenged by unavailability of appropriate seeds of local varieties or Cameroon improve varieties. Many decades ago, some improved varieties (Cipira and Jacob) were released by the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, (IRAD) Bambui, North West Region, Cameroon. The current study evaluated the performance of these varieties considering seed sizes. Four seed sizes (20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm and 35 mm diameter) and two varieties (Cipira and Jacob) were evaluated in a randomized complete block trial in Bambili in 2022. Growth parameters such as plant emergence, plant height, vigour and number of stems did not vary significantly for different seed sizes (<I>P</I> > 0.05) nor for varieties (<I>P</I> > 0.05). However, they tend to increase with increase seed size. The number of plants at harvest followed a similar pattern as the growth parameters. The highest number of tubers harvest for both varieties were obtained from tuber seed size of 35 mm. The total weight of harvested tubers was 3.87 Kg/plot, 2.9 Kg/plot, 2.8 Kg/plot and 2.73 Kg/plot from 35 mm, 30 mm, 20 mm and 25 mm, respectively for Cipira (<I>P</I> < 0.05). It was 3.77 Kg/plot, 3.3 Kg/plot, 2.6 Kg/plot and 2.5 Kg/plot from seed sizes of 35 mm, 30 mm, 25 mm and 20 mm, respectively for Jacob (<I>P</I> < 0.05). For improved yield, Cipira at 30 mm and 35 mm seed sizes are recommended.