MSCAGR (Plant Production) / Department of Plant Production / Agricultural production under rain-fed conditions is largely dependent on the availability of water stored in the soil during rainfall events. The production of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) under rain-fed conditions in the north-eastern part of South Africa is constrained by low and erratic rainfall events. Improving cassava production in the area requires the use of cassava varieties which are efficient in the use of limited soil moisture. The current climate change and increasing population growth on the planet will place more pressure on agriculture to produce more food using less water. Therefore, previously under-researched and underutilised crop like cassava could be used to bridge the food gap in the future. Although the crop currently occupies low levels of utilisation in South Africa and it is cultivated by smallscale farmers in the Low-veld of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Kwazulu-Natal provinces using landraces with no improved varieties available in the country. Information on the actual pattern of water extraction, water use and water use efficiency of cassava landraces grown in the dry environments of South Africa is limited. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the differences in water use efficiency, gaseous exchange and yield among four cassava landraces grown under rain-fed conditions. Two field experiments were conducted during the wetter (2016/2017) and drier (2017/2018) cropping season at the University of Venda's experimental farm. The trials were laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) consisting of four cassava landraces (ACC#1, ACC#2, ACC#3, and ACC#4) replicated three times. Mature cassava stem cuttings of 30 cm long, were planted manually at a spacing of 1 m x 1 m in both seasons. Each experimental unit consisted of six plant rows of 6 m length (36 m2) and 8 rows of 8 m length (64 m2) in the 2016/17 and 2017/2018 cropping season, respectively. The experiments were under rain-fed conditions without fertilizer additions and the plots were kept weed-free throughout the experimental period. Data collected in the field included soil moisture content, gaseous exchange parameters (net leaf ܥܱଶ uptake, stomatal conductance, and intracellular carbon dioxide concentration), chlorophyll content index (CCI), maximum photochemical quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), effective quantum yield of PSII (ФPSII) and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). Yield and yield components (root length (cm), root girth (cm), number of storage roots and mean root weight (g plant-1), root yield and aboveground biomass), as well as water use efficiency (WUE), were determined at harvest. Soil moisture content was measured at seven-day interval from sowing until harvest using a neutron probe. Soil moisture data were used to determine crop water use using the water balance approach. There was no variation in the root yield and yield components amongst the landraces in 2017/2018 cropping season but, genotypes affected aboveground biomass, root girth, number of roots per plant and root yield in 2016/2017 cropping season. There was a significant difference (P<0.01) in number of roots (per plant) 81% and 62% greater in ACC#3 and ACC#2 (6.7 & 6.0, respectively) compared with ACC#1 and ACC#4, which both recorded 4 roots per plant. Similarly, root girth was greater in ACC#3 (17.8 cm) and ACC#2 (18.2 cm) compared to ACC#1 (14.1 cm) and ACC#4 (12.9 cm), which were statistically the same. In contrast, total biomass (P<0.01) and root yield (P<0.05) were greater in ACC#3 (20.7 and 11.9 t ha-1, respectively) and ACC#1 (22.0 and 11.3 t ha-1, respectively) compared to ACC#2 and ACC#4 with root yields of 10.2 and 9.5 t ha-1, biomass of 17.1 and 16.3 t ha-1, respectively. Although the genotype x cropping season interaction did not affect root yield and yield components, root yield (by 33.8%; 2.7 t ha-1) and yield components were greater in the wetter compared to the drier season as expected. Water use efficiency of root yield (WUErt) and water use efficiency of biomass production (WUEb) varied with landraces in season I from 37.0 kg ha-1 mm-1 (ACC#4) to 46.60 kg ha-1 mm-1 (ACC#3), and between 71.30 kg ha-1 mm-1 (ACC#2) and 86.0 kg ha-1 mm-1 (ACC#1), respectively. Landraces did not differ in their water use and soil moisture extraction in both seasons but differed in season. However, there was a significant positive correlation between water use efficiency of root yield (WUErt) (0.963***) and water use efficiency of biomass production (WUEb) (0.847***). WUE of biomass production was greater in the drier than the wetter season partly because of dry matter accumulation per evapotranspiration within the landraces. Photosynthesis did not vary with landraces, however, stomatal conductance varied with landraces from 0.08 mmol m-2 s-1 (ACC#4) to 0.2 mmol m-2 s-1 (ACC#2). In contrast, ACC#1 and ACC#3 recorded the same value of stomatal conductance, which is 0.1 mmol m-2 s-1. The effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII) did not vary with landraces but the maximum photochemical quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) varied with landraces from 0.652 (ACC#4) to 0.792 (ACC#3) in season II. The proportion of intercepted radiation was affected by landraces in 2017/2018 cropping season. Highest proportion of intercepted radiation was observed in ACC#3 and the lowest in ACC#2. Proportion of intercepted radiation varied with landraces from 22.62% (ACC#2) to 86.45% (#ACC#3). There were significant genotypic variations in chlorophyll content recorded in both season. Chlorophyll content varied with landraces from 33.1 CCI (ACC4) to 55.4 CCI (#ACC3) in the 2016/2017, and in 2017/2018 cropping season chlorophyll content varied with landraces from 36.9 CCI (ACC4) to 78.7 CCI (#ACC3). The highest genotypic variation in chlorophyll content was observed in ACC#3, whilst the lowest chlorophyll content was recorded in ACC#4 in both seasons. / NRF

Submitted by BRUNO GAZOLA null (bruno.gazola1@hotmail.com) on 2017-09-18T21:28:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertaçao.pdf: 1390945 bytes, checksum: bb0de72b698137ad0b3f3e016683abe4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Monique Sasaki (sayumi_sasaki@hotmail.com) on 2017-09-19T20:27:38Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 gazola_b_me_bot.pdf: 1390945 bytes, checksum: bb0de72b698137ad0b3f3e016683abe4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-19T20:27:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 gazola_b_me_bot.pdf: 1390945 bytes, checksum: bb0de72b698137ad0b3f3e016683abe4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O potássio (K) é o nutriente mais absorvido e exportado pela cultura da mandioca. Porém, em solos de textura arenosa o K pode ser perdido mais facilmente por lixiviação, sendo que nesses solos a resposta da mandioca a aplicação de K é maior. Levando em consideração que a mandioca apresenta ciclo longo e crescimento inicial lento, pode ser que a aplicação de K apenas na fase de implantação da cultura não seja suficiente para garantir produtividades satisfatórias, principalmente em condições de solo arenoso. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de doses e formas de parcelamento da adubação potássica sobre a produtividade e qualidade das raízes tuberosas da mandioca de mesa cultivar IAC 576-70, cultivada em solo arenoso. O experimento foi conduzido em áreas individuais por dois anos agrícolas (2014/15 e 2015/16) no município de São Manuel-SP (22° 44’ S e 48° 34’ O e 740 m de altitude). O delineamento experimental em ambos os anos foi o de blocos ao acaso no esquema fatorial 3x4+1, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por 3 doses de K2O (45, 90 e 180 kg ha-1) combinadas com 4 formas de parcelamento (1 - 100% no plantio; 2 - 1/2 no plantio e 1/2 aos 45 dias após o plantio (DAP); 3 - 1/2 no plantio e 1/2 aos 90 DAP; 4 - 1/3 no plantio, 1/3 aos 45 DAP e 1/3 aos 90 DAP); além da testemunha sem K. A colheita da mandioca foi realizada ao final de 10 meses de ciclo. Foram avaliados, diagnose foliar, número e diâmetro das hastes, número de folhas por planta, altura da planta e população final de plantas, número, comprimento, diâmetro e peso médio das raízes, produtividade e qualidade das raízes tuberosas. No 1º ano de cultivo, a maior produtividade total e comercial de raízes tuberosas foi obtida com a dose estimada de 110 e 107 kg ha -1 de K2O, respectivamente. No 2º ano de cultivo, os maiores valores de produtividade total e comercial de raízes tuberosas ocorreram com a aplicação da dose de 180 kg ha-1 de K2O parcelada em três vezes (plantio, 45 DAP e 90 DAP). O tempo de cozimento das raízes tuberosas no 1º ano de cultivo diminui até a dose de 180 kg ha-1 de K2O em todas as formas de parcelamento utilizadas e o menor tempo de cozimento ocorreu quando o K foi parcelado em três aplicações. No 2º ano de cultivo, o menor tempo de cozimento foi obtido com a dose estimada de 116 kg ha -1 de K2O e a firmeza da polpa das raízes tuberosas cozidas reduziu até a dose de 180 kg ha-1 de K2O independentemente do parcelamento utilizado. O parcelamento da adubação potássica com metade das doses no plantio e o restante em cobertura aos 45 DAP reduziu a firmeza da polpa das raízes tuberosas até a dose estimada de 115 kg ha -1 de K2O no 2º ano de cultivo. / Potassium (K) is the nutrient most absorbed and removed by cassava. However, in sandy soils, it may be easier to leach, and it is not a cassava application. Taking into account that cassava presents a long cycle and slow initial growth, it may be the application of K only at the stage of crop implantation is not sufficient to guarantee satisfactory yields, especially in sandy soil conditions. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of rates and forms of potassium application on yield and quality of cassava storage roots, cultivar IAC 576-70, cultivated in sandy soil. The experiment was conducted in individual areas for two agricultural years, 2014/15 and 2015/16 in the municipality of São Manuel-SP (22 ° 44 'S; 48 ° 34' W and 740 m above sea level). The experimental design, in both years, was a randomized block design, with a 3x4+1 factorial scheme, with four replications. The treatments were consisted for 3 K2O rates (45, 90, and 180 kg ha-1 ) combined with 4 forms of K splitting (1 - 100% at planting, 2 - 1/2 at planting and 1/2 at 45 days after plating (DAP), 3 - 1/2 at planting and 1/2 at 90 DAP, 4 - 1/3 at planting, 1/3 at 45 DAP and 1/3 at 90 DAP), besides the control without K. Harvesting of cassava was carried out at the end of the 10 month cycle. It was evaluated: leaf number and diameter, number of leaves per plant, plant height and final plant population, number, length, diameter, and average weight of storage root, yield and quality of storage roots. In the first year of cultivation, the highest total and marketable storage root yield was obtained with the estimated rates of 110 and 107 kg ha-1 K2O, respectively. In the second year of cultivation, the highest values of total and marketable storage root yield occurred with the application of the rate of 180 kg ha-1 K2O divided in three times (planting, 45 DAP, and 90 DAP). The cooking time of the storage roots in the first year of cultivation decreased until the rate of 180 kg ha-1 K2O in all the splitting forms used, and the lowest cooking time occurred when K was divided into three applications. In the second year of cultivation, the lowest cooking time was obtained with the estimated rate of 116 kg ha-1 K2O and the pulp firmness of the cooked storage roots reduced up to the rate of 180 kg ha-1 of K2O, regardless of the splitting used. The potassium fertilizer splitting with half the rates at the planting and the remainder topdressing at 45 DAP reduced the pulp firmness of the tuberous roots until the estimated rate of 115 kg ha-1 K2O in the second year of cultivation.

Magistrantūros studijų baigiamojo darbo tyrimų tikslas buvo nustatyti optimalią karbamido tirpalo koncentraciją papildomam cukrinių runkelių tręšimui per lapus, derinyje su laisvųjų amino rūgščių preparatu Terra Sorb foliar, turinčią tiek maitinamąjį, tiek stimuliacinį poveikį augalams, užtikrinantį gausesnį šakniavaisių derlingumą bei geresnę produkcijos kokybę. Tyrimai vykdyti 2011 m. Marijampolės r. „Kuktų“ ž.ū.b. Dirvožemis sekliai karbonatingas giliau glėjiškas rudžemis (Epicalcari–Endohypogleyic Cambisols). Darbo objektas – cukriniai runkeliai (Beta vulgaris L., var. saccharifera), veislė –Marathon. Darbo metodai: Sausųjų medžiagų kiekis lapuose ir šaknyse buvo nustatomas džiovinant augalų bandinius termostate prie 105 0C iki jų pastovaus svorio. Runkelių šakniavaisių derlingumas ir vidutinis šakniavaisio svoris nustatytas svėrimo būdu pagal priimtas metodikas. Šakniavaisių cukringumas nustatytas Marijampolės cukraus fabrike. Tyrimų duomenys statistiškai įvertinti vieno veiksnio kiekybinių požymių dispersinės analizės ir koreliacinės regresijos metodais, taikant kompiuterines programas ANOVA, STAT ENG (Tarakanovas, Raudonius, 2003). Darbo rezultatai. Papildomas cukrinių runkelių tręšimas karbamido tirpalais, derinyje su laisvųjų amino rūgščių preparatu Terra Sorb foliar, didino jų šakniavaisių bei lapų derlius. 15% karbamido tirpalas labai apdegino lapus, ko pasekoje sumažėjo ir lapų, ir šakniavaisių derliai. Apipurškus augalus 15% karbamido tirpalu šakniavaisių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The main objective of Master thesis research was to determine the optimal concentration of urea solution in additional sugar beet fertilization through leaves, in combination with the free amino acids Terra Sorb foliar, which has both nutrient and stimulating effect on plants, ensuring richer root yields and better quality products. Research was carried out in 2011 in Marijampolė r. Agricultural company "Kuktai" ž.ū.b. Soil - shallow Endohypogleyic brown (Epicalcari-Endohypogleyic Cambisols). The objective – sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. var. Saccharifera), sort ‘Marathon’. Working methods: dry matter content in leaves and roots was determined by drying the plant samples in a thermostat at 105 0C up to the constant weight. Sugar Beet root yield and average root weight was determined by weighing according to accepted procedures. Root sugar was determined in Marijampolė sugar factory. Research results. Additional sugar beet fertilization with urea solutions, in combination with the free amino acids in Terra Sorb foliar treatment, increased the root and leaf yield. The concentrations of 15% of the urea solution burned leaves, resulting in decreased leaf and root yields. When concentration of 1 and 5% urea solution was sprayed yield enhanced by a 3.8% and 9.4%. The biggest amount of Dry matter in the roots of sugar beet was obtained after spraying 10 and 15% urea solution. The highest amount of sugar in roots (18.4%), was obtained after spraying with 5% urea solution. Urea... [to full text]

Thesis (Ph.D. (Plant Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a widely cultivated crop in many tropical countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Cassava is a staple food security crop for over one billion people worldwide. It is a multi‑purpose and well adapted to different agricultural production systems. Although cassava is adaptable to marginal soils with low fertility, and to irregular rainfall conditions, as it allows a relatively stable productivity and flexibility for harvesting process, the challenges posed by global climate change (both temperature and drought severity increasing) have caused negative impacts on this crop‘s productivity. Given the increasing demand for higher productivity to improve food security and alleviate poverty in the dry prone regions of Africa, there is a concurrent increasing demand to expand production into marginal ecologies and improve its adaptation in such ecologies. Breeding efforts have resulted in the development of high-yielding varieties, but due to late bulking and long time taken before crop is ready for harvest, the improved varieties were not easily adopted by farmers. The complex nature of yield and other productivity traits, coupled with the biology of cassava, make it more challenging to improve the crop. However, biotechnology has revolutionised breeding with the development of advanced molecular tools that have facilitated breeding-by-design approaches leading to effective manipulation of genes for complex traits. The potential and impact of the new tools are now providing a stronger basis to adopt molecular breeding to genetically improve the crop for key traits. The main objectives of the research were to: (i) Develop a mapping population and identify traits driving the physiological basis of drought tolerance in F1 cassava genotypes; (ii) Identify traits linked with early bulking in the F1 population; (iii) Identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for drought tolerance and early bulking in F1 cassava genotypes; and (iv) Estimate the genetic improvement for drought tolerance in the F1 population. Two genotypes (TMS98/0505 and TMS98/0581) with contrasting desirable traits such as high yield in marginal environment, good disease resistance, vigour, and flowering potentials were used in the development of the mapping population used in this study. Results indicate that there was a positive correlation between yield, yield-related traits .and morphological/physiological traits. Principal component analysis identified the scar level, height of stem with leaf, fresh root yield, dry root yield, root number and dry-matter content as traits driving drought tolerance in marginal environment. This study also identified early-bulking cassava varieties in the F1 population and traits associated with early bulking. Fresh root yield was significantly associated with morphological and productivity traits while principal component analysis identified important traits such as root weight, root number, plant biomass, fresh root yield, plant height, , and stem diameter. Composite interval mapping identified 27QTLs and 30 QTLs in the first and second year, respectively, associated with the traits phenotyped in dry savannah ecology of Nigeria, while 16 and 12 QTLs associated with early bulking at 7 MAP were identified in the first and second year. Identification of these loci will aid breeding for drought tolerance and early root bulking in cassava. There was a better performance among traits such as biomass, root number, dry-matter content, number of scars, number of leaves, and length of stem with leaf in the second population (population C) than in the first population (population B). Twenty superior genotypes were selected from population C, which will be incorporated in the breeding programmes for further evaluation and germplasm enhancement. KEY WORDS: Composite interval mapping, Fresh root yield, Manihot esculenta, morphological traits, Population C, physiological traits. / National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike