TY - JOUR T1 - Screening a Cycle 1 Breeding Population of Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) For Resistance to Taro Leaf Blight in Samoa AU - , P. Fonoti AU - , M.P. Tofinga AU - , D.G. Hunter JO - Research Journal of Biological Sciences VL - 3 IS - 8 SP - 888 EP - 891 PY - 2008 DA - 2001/08/19 SN - 1815-8846 DO - rjbsci.2008.888.891 UR - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjbsci.2008.888.891 KW - Taro leaf blight KW -breeding programme KW -recurrent selection KW -resistence KW -clones KW -taste tests KW -multiplication KW -evaluation KW -on-farm trials AB - The arrival of leaf blight in Samoa in 1993 devastated taro production in the country. Initial fungicidal efforts to manage the disease failed. Breeding taro for resistance to the disease was determined as the only long-term solution to the problem. A breeding programme, based on recurrent selection, was initiated in 1996 using exotic and traditional cultivars as parents. Breeding cycle 1 was screened for resistance to leaf blight during 1998 and 1999. Thirty clones were identified with good resistance to leaf blight and vigour. Following taste test evaluations 10 clones were selected for further multiplication and evaluation. MAFFM have officially released 6 of the clones to farmers. Clones C1-298 (Nu’u 16), C1-81 (Nu’u 5), C1-328 (Nu’u 21) and C1-40 (Talo Seve) yielded higher than the reference variety, PSB-G2, at the majority of sites in on-farm trials. ER -