CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT CASSAVA VARIETIES.

 Cassava, Mahinot spp, is one of the widely consumed crops in the world. Cassava has several byproducts that have been a major food for common man; aside from its consumed products, it is also a good source of industrial products like ethanol and starch. Cassava is widely cultivated in the tropics and has been a very lucrative investment. Over the years, farmers have been faced with huge problems like low yield and attack from pests and diseases; this made farming discouraging and seemed unprofitable. 

However, as a result of the quest to increase productivity and yield of a cassava crop, several modifications have been made to ensure the cassava crop yields optimally. Several varieties of cassava have been developed with productive and stunning characteristics that will make farmers have a good farming experience. These characteristics range from resistance to some particular diseases, hastened maturity, quality tuber and others you would read in this article.

The indigenous cassava has been observed to contain some flaws; these flaws have been improved by various research institutes across the world, like IITA. They have been working effortless to ensure farmers have good farming experience through the provision of improved planting materials.  There are several improved varieties of different crops in the system today and they have been very great in terms of performance and yield. In this article, you would read about different cassava varieties and their individual characteristics. These varieties are:

•        TMS 92/0326 
•       TMS 96/1414 
•       TMS 96/0023 
•       TMS 92/0057 
•       TMS 92/0067

TMS 92/0326

 

This is an improved variety of cassava developed by IITA, Nigeria. It has a reddish green petiole and flowers at a height below one meter. It has a long and large tuber with an average length of 75cm and a girth of about 30cm; it is whitish in color when freshly peeled but turns cream when stored. This cassava variety has been bred in such a way that it is highly resistant to major cassava diseases like: Cassava mosaic disease and Cassava bacterial blight; but moderately resistant to cassava anthracnose disease. It has a gestation period of 12 months.

Also, it is tolerant to pests like: cassava green mites and African root and tuber scale. This variety is comparatively high yielding as about 20-30 tons can be harvested from one hectare of cassava farmland, provided all agronomic practices are carried out as required and the planting conditions are favorable.

TMS 96/1414

 

This is another variety of cassava developed by IITA, Ibadan.  It has a red petiole and the color of the tuber is white when freshly peeled but turns cream when stored. It flowers at a height below one meter; the tuber is relatively large with an average length of 60cm and a girth of 20cm. it is highly resistant to cassava mosaic disease but moderately resistant to cassava bacterial blight and cassava anthracnose disease. It is susceptible to African root and tuber scale and cassava green mites.

It has the potential to yield about 22-32 ton per hectare when all agronomic practices are carried out as required and the planting conditions are favorable. It also has a gestation period of 12 months.

TMS 96/0023

This is another variety of cassava developed by IITA, Ibadan. This variety is hardier; it has a reddish green petiole and a white tuber when freshly peeled but turns cream when stored. It also flowers at a height below one meter. The tuber is plump and not as large as the aforementioned; the length of the tuber is about 30cm with 20cm girth. It is highly resistant to cassava mosaic disease, cassava anthracnose disease and cassava blight disease; they are also tolerant to cassava green mites and African roots and tuber scales.

About 18 to 27 tons of cassava can be harvested from one hectare, if all conditions are favorable.  It takes about 12 month to fully develop and ready for harvesting.

TMS 92/0057

This is another variety developed by IITA, Ibadan. It has a red petiole and white tuber when freshly peeled and remains white in color when stored. It flowers and form branches above one meter height. It has a large tuber of 60cm long with 20cm girth. This variety is another hardy variety; it is highly resistant to cassava mosaic disease but moderately resistant to cassava blight disease and cassava anthracnose disease. It is tolerant to cassava green mites and African root and tuber scale.

One hectare of this variety will yield about 21-30 tons; this variety stays on the field for 12 month before harvesting.

TMS 92/0067

This is another improved cassava variety developed by IITA, Ibadan. This variety forms its branch when it is about one meter high; it also have red petiole and white tuber when freshly peeled and remains white in color when stored. It produces a small-sized tuber of 30cm long with 20cm girth. It is highly resistant to cassava mosaic disease but moderately resistant to cassava bacterial blight and cassava anthracnose; it is also tolerant to cassava green mites.

18-24 tons can be harvested from one hectare of this variety of cassava.

Other varieties of cassava are:

• TMS 98/0505 
• TMS 98/0581
• TMS 30572 
• NR 8082 
• TME 419 
• TME 7

All these varieties are improved varieties that can be gotten at IITA office across the world. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is an African-based international research institute established in 1967. They are saddled with the responsibility of providing improved planting materials to enhance increase in productivity and profitability. As a farmer, who is passionate about increasing farm output, do not be far from IITA; you will get new practices and innovative information from IITA.