Screening and morphological characterization of taro (Colocasia sp.)

Abstract

Eight genotypes of Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum and one genotype of C. gigantea collected
from different localities were studied for their morphological differences and genetic variability. Based on the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute descriptors for taro, with some modifications, twelve morphological traits were evaluated to analyze the nature and extent of variability in the edible germplasm of C. esculenta var. antiquorum and C. gigantea. Significant differences, together with wide ranges of variation observed in most genotypes, indicate the existence of variability among the genotypes. The highest yield per plant was observed in genotype CE-2, followed by CE-4, while the lowest yield was recorded in CE-3. Genotypic
variance and the coefficient of variation for most traits were remarkably higher than their corresponding phenotypic variances, suggesting the existence of inherent gene tic variation.