Evaluation of leaf blight resistant taro (Colocasia esculents) varieties for Bubia, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.

Abstract

Thirty five taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) varieties resistant to taro leaf blight (TLB) (Phytophthora colocasiae Racib.) were evaluated at Bubia Agricultural Research Centre, Lae, Papua New Guinea, for yield components and eating quality in comparison with the locally preferred cultivar, Numkowec. The main factors affecting eating quality were presence of conspicuous corm fibre and acridity. Leaf blight resistant varieties AN 65, 17, 50, 32, 46,21, 12 and AN 20 had acceptable eating quality. Their corm yield ranged from 300 g/plot (AN 50) to 570 g/plot (AN 21). However, their corm yield was not significantly different from that of Numkowec (430 g/plot). These resistant varieties are recommended to farmers in the Lae area based on their resistance to TLB and their similarities in corm yield and eating quality to Numkowec.