PROPAGATING CASSAVA (MANIHOT-ESCULENTA) BY SEXUAL SEED

Commercial cassava production from true cassava seeds (TCS) appears to be a promising option for reducing or eliminating several of the prod uction constraints associated with vegetative propagation. The most im portant contribution of TCS would be to reduce virus build-up in veget ative material and to resolve the problems of stake storage, low multi plication rate and the long growth cycle. Preliminary results suggest that the root yield potential of TCS is comparable with that of tradit ional vegetative propagation. Improvements in the capacity of true see d progenies to germinate and establish in the field can be achieved ei ther genetically or through pre-planting seed treatments such as coati ng the seed with rock phosphate. Development of a successful TCS techn ology will require a multidisciplinary approach, involving basic studi es in cassava breeding, physiology, agronomy, socio-economics and othe r fields.