The harvesting period of 12 months after planting (MAP) is the major constraint in cassava (Manihot esculenta) cultivation, prompting the need for early-harvest (5–9 MAP) cultivars. Hence, yield potential evaluation of cassava genotypes during the early-harvest period is necessary. This study assesses the yield potential of 18 advanced cassava mutants (M1V8 generation) and five cassava commercial varieties harvested at 7 MAP. The results showed nine mutants yielded above 30.0 t ha-1 (ADR-24, GJ-7, GJ-10, GJ-14, GJ-16, ML-18, ML-19, ML-20, and RTM-26), and two mutants (ML-21 and RTM-25) surpassed 40.0 t ha-1, notably higher than previous early-harvest studies. Despite high yields, the proportion of commercial-size roots is moderately low (4–6 roots/plant). However, selected mutants produced 10–16 total roots/plant, suggesting cultivation adjustments could improve commercial root yield. A positive correlation between production traits indicates that higher commercial-size roots correspond to increased yield potential. Of the 11 promising mutants, five (GJ-10, GJ-14, GJ-16, ML-21, and RTM-26) with low bitterness attained favor for taste. The five mutants are endorsable as early-harvesting, high-yielding, and low HCN-content cassava cultivars.
Manihot esculenta, irradiation mutagenesis, early maturity, high-root productivity
Gamma irradiation randomly affects cassava root morphological and yield changes. This evaluation found 11 early-maturity (harvesting at 7 MAP) and high-yielding advanced mutants. Moreover, the root bitterness level of the five cassava mutants is low, indicating a minimal HCN level.