GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF TAPIOCA (MANIHOT UTILISSIMA) .I. LEAF CHARACTERISTICS AND YIELD

The shoots of high, medium and low yielding clones of tapioca were examined to see whether yield was associated with morphological characteristics of the foliage and/or with leaf area development. The lowest yielding variety had the highest leaf area per stem, and vice versa, differences in leaf area being mainly due to differences in leaf size. Leaves of the highest yielding variety possessed attenuated lobes, which tended to have a more vertical mid-day orientation, whereas the lowest yielding variety possessed large broad-lobed leaves with more horizontal orientation. The intermediate variety had acutely attenuated lobes and showed a much more vertical day-time orientation. The relationship between the leaf properties and canopy efficiency is discussed. © 1969, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.