Photosynthetic Traits, Growth, and Yield of Cassava Plantlets From Different Sources and Cultivars

Cassava cultivation faces increasing challenges from diseases, particularly cassava mosaic virus. Efficient propagation systems are essential for producing disease-free plants and sustaining production. However, information on the agronomic, physiological, growth traits, and yield of cassava plantlets produced through rapid propagation remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the photosynthetic and agronomic traits, as well as the growth and yield, of cassava plantlets derived from an aeroponic system under both pot and field conditions, using a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Three cassava varieties-Kasetsart 50 (KU50), Rayong 9 (RY9), and Huay Bong 60 (HB60)-were assigned as Factor A, while four plantlet sources-three derived from aeroponic systems (leaf bud cuttings, mini-cuttings, and normal cuttings) and one from conventional cuttings-were assigned as Factor B. The results indicated that HB60 and RY9 exhibited superior growth, stem diameter, photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration, and higher yields. Notably, RY9 also showed greater plant height and stem diameter, contributing to a higher multiplication rate. Plantlet sources did not significantly affect photosynthetic traits under either pot or field conditions but did increase canopy height, starch yield in the field, and starch content in the pot. Interestingly, the performance of leaf bud cuttings, mini-cuttings, and normal cuttings was comparable to conventional planting methods in terms of photosynthetic traits, yield traits, and harvest index. These findings suggest similarities among cassava cultivars in their responses to different plantlet sources and highlight the potential value of plantlet sources as a consideration for plant propagation programs.