Agrosavia La 22: First variety of arracacha in Colombia

Abstract

In Colombia, about seven regional materials are grown in monoculture and occasionally in associate, the cycle is annual and without planting seasonality, allowing harvesting throughout the year. Production is low with yields ranging from 7 to 13 t ha-1 and phytosanitary problems are presented in addition to the presence of commercial roots with unwanted purple pigmentations in the commercialization. In order to offer new genotypes, increase yields and meet the demand for yellow tuberous roots, the variety Agrosavia La 22 is obtained that preserves the color of the root and is the first genotype of this species to be registered in the national register of crops in Colombia. Agrosavia La 22 is the result of the selection of plants from sexual seed that were generated after the process of cross-pollination of accessions preserved in the germplasm bank in Colombia. Qualitative and quantitative descriptors of complete plant, leaf, seed, stem and tuberous root were used, as well as yield variables. After five evaluation cycles the results show that this variety has completely yellow roots, experimental yields of commercial roots of 33.48 t ha-1 and non-commercial of 1.31 t ha-1. On average a plant has nine commercial roots, each with an average weight of 271 g, 15 propagules per plant and tolerance to pests and diseases compared to commonly used genotypes.