The Leaf Color Performance on Several Lines of Cassava and its Relation with Tuber Yield as Early Reference

Mutation breeding using Gamma irradiation is one of strategies to improve the genetic variability in a vegetatively propagated plant such as cassava. Characterization of the qualitative and quantitative characters of irradiated cassava mutant lines is an important activity in the selection process. Leaf color variability can be used to estimate the potential mutant genotypes without waiting the tuber harvest time using hyperspectral technology, and thus accelerate the plant breeding program. The objectives of this research were to characterize leaf qualitative characteristics and yield characteristics of several irradiated cassava M1V2 generation and to evaluate the relation between leaf performance and tuber yield of several cassava mutant lines as an early reference in the hyperspectral remote sensing application. Fifteen genotypes of M1V1 generation (five parent genotypes and ten mutant lines derived from gamma rays irradiation) were planted in the experimental field. Leaf performance such as color of leaf (young shoot and mature), petiole, and also other characters were observed by using cassava descriptor. The result showed that the leaf and plant canopy performance play an important role in determining the yield (weight of fresh tuber). In particular genotypes, greener (dark green) leaf color will increase the weight of tubers per plant. These results confirmed that the leaf color of several cassava lines would be well suited for early estimation of yield.