Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Plantlets Survival and Growth under Semi-autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH): Insights from Novel Varieties in Togo

Abstract

Aims: Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), widely cultivated in Africa and ranked as the fourth most produced crop globally, remains constrained by the lack of healthy planting material and its high susceptibility to viral diseases. In a context where access to quality cassava seed remains a major challenge for farmers, the Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponic (SAH) system emerges as an innovative solution to ensure the availability of healthy and vigorous planting material in Togo. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of plantlets from newly introduced International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) varieties obtained through SAH in laboratory conditions, in order to assess their adaptability. Study Design: The experiment was carried out using a Completely Randomized Design with three replications. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the tissue culture laboratory of the Togolese Agricultural Research Institute (ITRA) over a four-week period, from August to September 2025. Methodology: Two industrial-use varieties (Dixon and Farmer’s Pride), developed by IITA, and one local variety (Gbazékouté) were evaluated under SAH conditions. The parameters measured included contamination rate, establishment rate, collar diameter, plantlet height, leaf number per plantlet, and root number per plantlet. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s HSD test for mean separation. Results: The results revealed significant differences among varieties for leaf number (p < 0.001), plantlet height (p < 0.001), root number (p < 0.05), and collar diameter (p < 0.05). Farmer’s Pride exhibited superior vigour, with more leaves (5.73 ± 0.3), greater height (1.96 ± 0.3), and a better developed root system (7.33 ± 0.3). Gbazékouté showed a larger collar diameter (2.17 ± 0.3), indicating robustness, whereas Dixon (1.89 ± 0.3) was less performant. Farmer’s Pride is the variety best adapted to SAH conditions. Conclusion: Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) proved effective in supporting cassava plantlets survival and growth, with notable varietal differences observed. These findings highlight the potential of SAH as a reliable propagation system for both improved and local cassava varieties in Togo, offering valuable insights for scaling up cassava production and strengthening food security initiatives.