Progress 11/15/01 to 09/30/04
Outputs
Irrigation requirements of taro. Plants grown at 100% of evapotranspiration (water lost by evaporation from moist surfaces plus water lost by plants) had greater fresh and dry weights of corms than those grown at 50% of evapotranspiration and were not different from those grown at higher irrigation levels. Mulching versus supplemental irrigation. To determine the cost-benefits of mulching compared to supplemental irrigation, taro variety Maui Lehua was planted at the Kona Experiment Station in January 2004 and will be harvested in November 2004. Six treatments consisted of a factorial combination of 3 mulches (none, coffee hulls, and plastic) and 2 irrigation levels (none and supplemental). Evaluation of blight-resistant taro varieties and hybrids. Over 250 cultivars of taro were grown during 2002-2004 over two cropping cycles at the Kauai Branch Station. The highest yielding taro variety was a hybrid cross between Ngeruuch and Niumalu that was bred by Dr. Ramon de la
Pena. It had a fresh weight yield (with rot removed) of 32,253 kg per ha. Over 150 cultivars of taro were replicated over two cropping cycles during 2002-2004. Sawa Bastora was the highest-yielding taro cultivar; however, it had a very poor consumer acceptance rating for poi. It had over double the yield of Lehua maoli, which had the highest consumer acceptance rating for poi. Fourteen cultivars of taro were evaluated along the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii during 2002-2003. The highest yielding taro variety was Ngesuas, a Palauan variety known to have resistance to Phytopthora leaf blight. The second highest yielding cultivar was another Palauan variety Ochelochel. They had yields more than double that of the popular Hawaiian variety Lehua maoli. Nine varieties of taro were evaluated along the Hamakua Coast during 2003-2004. The highest yielding taro variety was the University of Hawaii (UH) patented variety Pa akala, the second highest was the UH patented variety Pauakea, and the third
highest was the UH patented variety Pa lehua. Yields of these UH hybrids were more than double that of Lehua maoli. Taste tests were conducted during 2001-2004 in cooperation with Hui Kalo Moku O Keawe, a group of taro enthusiasts. In January 2004, taste tests were conducted in cooperation with Mr. Allan Okuda at the Food Service program of Hawaii Community College. Consumer acceptance of Pa lehua was as high as Lehua maoli for poi; however, it was observed that corm disease (even though rotten portions were removed) adversely affected the flavor of Pa lehua. Consumer acceptance ratings of poi made from Palauan varieties, Ngesuas and Ochelochel, and UH patented varieties, Pa akala and Pauakea, were acceptable, but lower than that of Lehua maoli. At the College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources Hawaii County Open House in November 2001, six hundred vegetative propagating materials of 6 taro varieties were distributed in addition to poi and table taro samples. In June 2002, taro
variety Bun-long was provided for Chef Paul Heerlein at the West Hawaii Community College; he prepared a tasty taro patty for Taste of the Range.
Impacts
Through better information on water requirements of dryland-grown taro, farmers will be able to provide adequate but not excessive irrigation for optimal taro production and reduce their production costs. Doubling of the current yields of commercial cultivars is possible when resistance to Phytophthora leaf blight is bred into taro hybrids. However, consumer acceptance tests need to be conducted to ensure that new hybrids are acceptable for poi quality. Taro farmers will adopt new disease-resistant varieties that have high yields and good consumer acceptance.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
We have continued our evaluation of taro hybrids developed for Phytophthora leaf blight-resistance. Dr. John Cho is in the process of multiplying several promising Phytophthora leaf blight-resistant taro hybrids for distribution to extension agents and participating farmers. Planting materials of several traditional taro cultivars from the Kauai Branch Station collection were distributed to a taro farmer, the University of Hawaii-Hilo farm, and the Molokai Applied Research Farm. An experiment to determine the calcium and magnesium requirements of taro is in progress at a site along the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii island. An experiment to determine the nitrogen requirements of taro was harvested recently at the Kula Agricultural Park and the data is being statistically analyzed. A grant to determine and demonstrate a sustainable green manure system for dryland taro production was funded recently.
Impacts
Sustainability of production of taro, a tropical root crop, will be increased by new hybrids with greater resistance to Phytophthora leaf blight. In addition, information on nutrient requirements and green manure crops for dryland-grown taro will help to improve economic sustainability of taro.
Publications
- Miyasaka, S.C., Ogoshi, R.M., Tsuji, G.Y. and Kodani, L.S. 2003. Site and planting date effects on taro growth: Comparison with aroid model predictions. Agron. J. 95:545-557.
- Osorio, W.J., Shuai, X., Miyasaka, S., Wang, B., Shirey, R.L. and Wigmore, W.J. 2003. Nitrogen level and form affect taro growth and nutrition. HortSci. 38(1):36-40.
|
Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02
Outputs
Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a tropical root crop that is grown primarily for its starchy, underground stem, or corm. It can be grown under flooded or dryland (non-flooded) conditions. To determine the water requirement of dryland-grown taro cv. Maui Lehua and to validate SUBSTOR-Aroid v3.5, an aroid simulation model, four levels of irrigation were applied (50, 100, 150, and 200% ET) during a second field trial conducted during 2000-01. Eight plants were harvested at 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 months, divided into leaf blades, petioles, and corms of the main plant, those of the sucker plants, and roots. Plants grown at 100% ET had greater fresh and dry weights of corms than those grown at 50% ET and were not different from those grown at higher irrigation levels. The growth and N subroutines in the model were modified based on findings from the first field trial (described in earlier CRIS project report). Outputs from the revised model showed improved prediction of taro
yield in three previous field trials. A taro variety trial was conducted along the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii during 2001-2002, and taste tests were conducted in cooperation with Hui Kalo Moku O Keawe, a group of taro enthusiasts. Also at the College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources (CTAHR) Hawaii County Open House in November 2001, six hundred vegetative propagating materials of six taro varieties were distributed in addition to poi and table taro samples. In addition, taro cultivar Bun-long was grown for Chef Paul Heerlein at the West Hawaii Community College. He prepared an elegant and tasty taro patty for Taste of the Range which was held in June 2002.
Impacts
Through better information on water requirements of dryland-grown taro, farmers will be able to provide adequate but not excessive irrigation for optimal taro production. Through taro taste tests, researchers discovered which taro varieties are preferred by consumers while consumers discovered that many different taro varieties exist. Over 50 people participated in these taste tests; over 1000 people attended the CTAHR Open House; approximately 1300 people attended Taste of the Range.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|