Standardisation of true cassava seed (TCS) programme with special emphasis on more homogeneous, CMD resistant progenies

The propagation of cassava through true seeds (sexual seeds) rather than by clones is a promising option due to its manifold advantages such as enhancing the multiplication rate, keeping the dreaded cassava mosaic disease (CMD) under check, longer seed viability, ease of storage and transport. The high genetic heterogeneity and consequent variation among seedlings is the major stumbling block in sexual propagation. In the present study, a CMD resistant exotic accession MNga-1 and a promising cultivar Ambakadan with profuse fruit setting, seed output and male sterility were identified to be promising parents for the TCS programme. The rate of sexual propagation could be more than 20-fold over the traditional clonal propagation. Seed treatment with 1% KNO₃ or 300 ppm GA promoted uniform seed germination and seedling vigour and reduced the transplanting period from 45 days after planting (DAS) to 30 DAS. Removal of taproots of seedlings while transplanting enhanced tuber development. Tuber yield of first clones (C₁) was significantly superior to that of the seedlings. The dry matter content and starch output of seedlings and first clones were comparable to that of the commercial varieties. Similarly, the HCN and cooking quality of seedlings and first clones were at acceptable levels. In the open pollinated (OP) progenies of the Ambakadan the CMD infection increased drastically due to secondary spread of the pathogen. The hybrid progenies of Ambakadan and the CMD resistant line MNga-1 revealed higher percentage of CMD free seedlings and first clonal progenies in the evaluation trials conducted at CTCRI Thiruvananthapuram and ARS, Peddapuram during 2001–2002 and 2002–2003. Nearly homogeneous hybrid population resistant to CMD could be obtained by systematic roguing at seedling and first clonal stage.