EVALUATION OF MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS AND YIELD VARIABILITY OF SOME ELITE CASSAVA (MANIHOT ESCULENTA CRANTZ) IN UYO, SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT Field experiment was carried out at Okigwe to evaluate some morphological traits and yield variablility of some elite cassava varieties with aim of making innovative recommendation to farmers. The experiment laid out in a complete block design, replicated three times. The treatments were six cassava varieties; TMS 30572, TME 419, TMS 98/0505, TMS 98/0581, TMS 01/1412 and local variety known as Obubit Okpo. Data collected from growth and yield were subjected to analysis of variances. Significant means were compares using least significant difference (LSD) at 5% probability level. Among the cassava varieties; TMS 98/0581 had superiority over in four characters namely; leaf area, storage root length, storage root circumference and yield. Also TMS 01/1412 was superior in terms of number of leaves per plant and number of storage roots per plant while TME 419 was superior in terms of plant height. Since TMS 98/0581 had four major characters, it could be disseminated to farmers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, while the other varieties TMS 01/1412, and TME 419 which were superior in two and one characters respectively could be incorporated into breeding programme with TMS 98/0581 to produce hybrid varieties with higher yield for the study area