Induction of Earlier Flowering in Cassava through Extended Photoperiod

Abstract

Erect plant architecture is preferred by farmers but results in late and scarce flowering, which slows down breeding considerably. Inducing earlier and abundant flowering in crossing nurseries (involving erect genotypes) is a key objective for cassava and was the subject of this study. Five genotypes with contrasting flowering behavior were grown under dark night (DN) and extended photoperiod (EP) conditions for three seasons. EP was achieved with different red light emitting diodes (LEDs) with 625–635 nm wavelength all night long or through night-breaks. EP reduced height and number of days to first branching, particularly in non- or late-flowering genotypes. A minimum of 0.02 μmol m−2 s−1 was required to elicit earlier flowering in plants illuminated all night. Early results using five genotypes were validated across 116 genotypes planted in a crossing nursery. EP promoted earlier flowering in erect-plant genotypes but reduced the number of branching events in early flowering genotypes to some extent. 50W LED lamps, fixed at 3 m above ground in a 4.5 m grid, proved to be a practical approach to extend photoperiod in breeding nurseries. Night breaks also proved effective, thus opening the possibility of using solar panels where electricity is not available.