During this reporting period, the International Potato Center (CIP) supplied 30 (10- Vita and 20- Kabode) cleaned up (virus free plantlets) to the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI). Makerere University (MAK) is conserving in vitro plantlets of three orange sweetpotato (OSP) varieties (Kabode, Vita and Ejumula) as backup for NaCRRI and BioCrops Ltd. MAK multiplied and maintained the OSP in tissue culture before CIP delivered OFSP tissue culture plantlets to NaCRRI. BioCrops has since January 2013 delivered 32,000 vines (13,000 of Ejumula, 11,000 of Kabode and 8,000 of Vita) to HarvestPlus vine multipliers. CIP in collaboration with NaCRRI of the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) has harvested all second season 2012 on-farm trials in the districts of Kabale, Isingiro, Rakai, Buyende and Oyam. At total of 42 trials were harvested and nine palatability tests were conducted. SPK 004/2006/1136 had the highest yield across districts (13.5 tons/ha) followed by NASPOT7/2006/292 (8.7 tons/ha). The check clone NASPOT 10 O yielded 10.2 tons/ha. During the palatability tests, farmers preferred NASPOT 7/2006/292 and SPK 004/2006/1136 for their sweetness, starchiness, good flavor and general appearance. CIP and NaCRRI also setup on-farm trials for season A 2013 in the districts of Kabale, Isingiro, Rakai, Buyende and Oyam. The trials were setup with six OSP clones; Ejumula (OP) 2012/3, Ejumula (OP) 2012/11, Ejumula (OP) 2012/9, Ejumula (OP) 2012/10, Resisto (OP) 2012/1 and NASPOT 10 (common check). CIP has also planted materials for post-harvest experiments in Masaka, Rakai, Mukono and Soroti districts. Four varieties (Kabode, NASPOT 8, NASPOT 1 and the local variety ‘SOCADIDO) were planted on a total of 1.5 acres of land (1500 heaps of each of the varieties respectively) per farmer. The post-harvest experiments will be setup between August and September 2013. NASPOT7/2006/292 and SPK004/2006/1136 performed well during the 1st and 2nd season 2012 trials, and documentation is underway for their release during the next variety release this year.
Authors: Robert Mwanga, Gerald kyalo, Jan W. Low, Sam Namanda, Simon Heck, Gorrettie Ssemakula, M. Ssetumba, David Talengera, Robert Mwanga, Gerald kyalo, Jan W. Low, Sam Namanda, Simon Heck, Gorrettie Ssemakula, M. Ssetumba, David Talengera
Contributors: Administrator, Administrator
Subjects: Biofortification
Pages: 34
Publisher: International Potato center
Publication Date: 2016
Keywords: Biofortification, Biofortified crops, Delivering and Disseminating, Uganda