ABSTRACT
This study was carried out during two successive seasons 2018
and 2019 at El-Kanater El-Khyreia, Horticulture Research Station of
Hort. Res. Institute (Kaluobia Governorate), Agriculture Research Center
(ARC), Egypt, the present investigation was carried out to study the
effect of four gamma rays doses, 30, 60, 90 and 120 Gy in addition to Gy
0 (control), on yield and its components of Taro during two generations
(M1and M2) in the two growing seasons 2018 and 2019. 120 Gy had
lethal effect where it resulted in no germination.
The results showed highly significant mean squares for all the
studied traits in both two generations indicating considerable variations
between the four treatments, while, phenotypic coefficient of variation was
higher than that of genotypic coefficient of variation for all traits. Gamma
ray affected widely the genetic variation making it good way to select new
lines in taro. The 30 Gy dose was the best producing maximum variation in
M2 generation. Selection was done on the plants under that dose to select
the better plants were selected according to high vegetative growth, plant
height, number of leaves per plant, number of corms, corm length, corm
weight and diameter as well as corm shape index. Results of evaluated M2
generation clones can be summarize as follows: selection based on weight of
corm was efficient to increase total yield and corm quality, the clone's
number 3, 4 and 5 produced the highest number of corms / plant and the
highest corm weight. the selected clone's number 3, 4 and 5 are
recommended for cultivation in Delta Governorates Egypt.