Abstract
The information on genotypic responses to the seasonal variation in the starch content, starch yield, and starch quality of cassava is limited. The objective of this research was to investigate the seasonal variation of starch characteristics of three cassava genotypes grown under irrigation. The experiment was conducted at four planting dates (20 April, 30 June, 5 October, and 15 December 2015). Three cassava genotypes (CMR38-125-77, Kasetsart 50, and Rayong 11) were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with four replications and the plants were harvested at 12 months. The planting date contributed the largest portion of the total variation in the starch content, starch yield, and starch granule size. The amylose content variability was heavily influenced by genotype. Cassava planted on 5 October or 15 December had greater starch content, starch yield, and starch granule in most genotypes. This was likely due to a higher temperature and solar radiation during the 3–9 months post-planting. CMR38-125-77 showed a consistently high starch content, starch yield, and high amylose content for most planting dates except for the starch yield on 20 April, of which Rayong 11 was the best. These findings will be useful for choosing suitable cassava genotypes for different growing seasons and for facilitating breeding efforts for high starch-yielding and high-quality cassava starch in the future.
Highlights
Archaeological evidence and fossil remains, the domestication of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz, 2n = 36) traced back to about 7000 to 12,000 years ago, and their selection by ancient farmers and modern plant breeders resulted in the modern cassava cultivars with extraordinary characteristics including a high biomass and high starch yield, high ability to grow in unfavorable environments, and tolerance to drought [1]
The research presented in this current manuscript was conducted under irrigation, water stress did not have a significant effect on the crop differences among planting dates and the crop differences were mainly due to other climatic factors and crop genotypes
Under irrigated conditions, planting date was the main cause of differences in starch content, starch yield, and starch granule size, but not for amylose content
Summary
The starchy tuberous roots can be consumed after cooking or used as a raw material in the manufacture of processed food, animal feed, bio-ethanol or industrial products. In Asia, cassava was introduced about two hundred years ago [3], and it is mainly grown for commercial proposes such as dried chips, pellets and starch for Agronomy 2018, 8, 297; doi:10.3390/agronomy8120297 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy. In 2020, the global demand for cassava production for food and industrial purposes is expected to reach up to about 290 million tons [5]. For this reason, a better understanding of the edaphic and climatic factors affecting the starch quality and quantity of cassava would enhance its use. Multi-environment trials have been found to be essential for determining the genotype stability and predicting the performance of the traits across environments [6]
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