Yield potential and agronomic performance of Kaentawan under growing conditions in the Northeast, Thailand

Abstract

Although it is promising candidate as raw material for various value-added products, animal feed andgreen energy production, Kaentawan (Helianthus tuberosus L.) has not been grown commercially in Thailand, andlittle information about yield and agronomic performance under growing conditions in Thailand is available. Theobjective of this study was to compare tuber yield and agronomic performance of some clones of Kaentawan withdiverse origins. Fourteen clones of Kaentawan were planted in a randomized complete block with four replicationsunder irrigation in dry season 2005/2006. Data were recorded for above ground biomass (AGB), leaf area index(LAI), tuber yield (TY), soluble solid index (Brix) and harvest index (HI). AGB gradually increased from the plantages of 0 to 4 weeks after planting (WAP). Flush growth occurred and generally reached the peak from 4 to 8 WAP.Rapid decline in AGB occurred after 12 WAP, by JA 102, HEL 335, HEL 66 and JA 89 varieties tended to highestAGB and the growth pattern of AGB is in good accordance with those of LAI. LAI for the best clone was lower than2.0, indicating the need for higher plant population densities to achieve optimum yield. Variations among clones for these characters were great, enhancing further selection for the best clone in term of dry matter accumulation.Tuber initiation might occurred few weeks before the age of 8 WAP. Tuber growth increased until the age of 12WAP, when some clones reached the peak and started to decline and some clones resumed growing until harvest(13 WAP s). Under limited study, variation for tuber yield was also high by JA 89 and JA 102 varieties tended tohighest TY. Variation for brix is not as high as other characters and significant with average of 21.9 at 12 WAP only.HI variation, though high at 12 WAP, was not significant at harvest (13 WAP).