STUDY ON COLD-HARDINESS OF CASSAVA (MANIHOT-ESCULENTA CRANTZ)

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) cold hardiness by low temperature t reatment to plantlets, somatic embryos, and embryonic callus in vitro was studied. The study included the testing of four cassava varieties for cold-hardiness resistant status, cold-temperature injury limit, an d the use of electrical conductivity to measure the cold hardiness of different cassava varieties, tissues, and organs. These were used to i dentify cold-resistant varieties. The effect of different low temperat ures and duration of exposure to cold temperature on the cyclic somati c embryogenesis was also studied, and a base was established for cassa va somatic cold-resistant mutant selection.