Identification of the genetic diversity of sweet potato germplasm based on quantitative morphological characters

Abstract Sweet potato is one of the prospective food crops to be used as an export commodity. Information on genetic diversity of sweet potato is needed as a consideration for the improvement of superior sweet potato varieties that have export quality. The research was conducted in Wringin Songo village, Tumpang, Malang Regency. The materials used were 150 sweetpotato accessions in total that consisting of: 19 superior varieties, 38 local clones, 1 introduced variety and 92 promising clones. This experiment was arranged in randomized block design (RBD) with two replications. The qquantitative morphological variables such as: potential yield, tuber weight, dry matter, stover weight, harvest index and number of tubers plot −1 were observed. The results showed that the genetic diversity was quite high in the sweet potato germplasm, there were 41 clones that had yield potential (≥ 30 t ha −1 ). Some of these clones were prospective to be used as parents for crossing due to their ability to flower. Two sweet potato clones (MSU 10001-18 and MSU 07030-64) with dark purple flesh colour, Kidal variety with yelow flesh color and above 30% tuber dry matter have the criteria required for export market.