%0 Journal Article
%T Evaluation of cassava varieties for yield and adaptability in Zimbabwe
%A M Chitiyo
%A I Kasele
%J African Crop Science Journal
%D 2004
%I 
%X Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is becoming an important household food security crop especially in the drier areas of Zimbabwe. Cassava, however, performs differently under various soil and climatic conditions. To address this problem, eighteen newly introduced cassava varieties namely, M 86/00106, I92/0326, 92B/0006, I92/0057, XM7, I91/02324, TME1, I92/0067, I4(2)1443, I63397, XM6, I92/0342, I4(2)1425, TME2, I30001, 91/0282, I00142, I91/02327; and two local accessions (Rushinga White and Smart farmer) were evaluated under rainfed conditions, without fertilisation during the 2000/2001 and 2002/2003 cropping seasons. From the study, M86/00106, I920326, 92B/006, I920057 and XM7 showed stable yields across the two environments, even though yields were slightly higher in NR 11. Mean yield of the six best performing-improved varieties was 14.4 t ha-1, 26% higher than 10.70 t ha-1, mean of the local accessions. The study also showed that cassava will produce acceptable yields even under sub-optimal conditions. There were no significant disease incidence recorded in both sites and on all varieties. Key Words: Manihot esculenta, marketable yield, mealybug R¨¦SUM¨¦ Le manioc (Manihot esculenta) est devenu une plante importante pour la s¨¦curit¨¦ alimentaire des m¨¦nages, sp¨¦cialement dans les zones s¨¨ches du Zimbabwe. Cependant, la performance du manioc varie avec les conditions climatiques. Pour r¨¦sourdre ce probl¨¨me, 18 nouvelles vari¨¦t¨¦s de manioc ¨¦taient introduites comprennant M86/00106, I92/0326, 92B/0006, I92/0057, XM7, I91/02324, TME1, I92/0067, I4(2)1443, I63398, XM6, I92/0342, I4(2)1425, TME2, I30001, 91/0282, I00142, I91/02327 et deux vari¨¦t¨¦s locales Rushinda blanc et le smart fermier ¨¦taient ¨¦valu¨¦es dans des conditions pluvieuses, sans engrais pendant les saisons culturales 2000/2001 et 2002/2003. L\'¨¦tude montra que M86/00106, I920326, 92B/006, I920057 et XM7 avaient des rendements stables ¨¤ travers les deux environnements, m¨ºme si les rendements ¨¦taient l¨¦g¨¨rement sup¨¦rieurs dans NR11. La moyenne de six plus performantes vari¨¦t¨¦s am¨¦lior¨¦es ¨¦taient 14.4 t ha-1, 26% plus ¨¦l¨¦v¨¦ que le 10.70 t ha-1 moyenne des vari¨¦t¨¦s locales. L\'¨¦tude montra aussi que le manioc peut produire des rendements acceptables m¨ºme sous des conditions sub-optimales. L\'incidence de la maladie n\'a pas ¨¦t¨¦ significative dans les deux sites et pour toutes les vari¨¦t¨¦s. Mots cl¨¦s: Manihot esculenta, rendement vendable, virus farineux African Crop Science Journal Vol.12(3) 2004: 197-200
%U http://www.ajol.info/index.php/acsj/article/view/27878