Dry mass partitioning and growth dynamics of cassava cultivars with contrasting shoot architectures under different plant densities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33158/ASB.r242.v12.2026Keywords:
Manihot esculenta Crantz, growth rate, partition coefficient, synthesize allocate dry massAbstract
Cassava is notable among cultivated crops for its high capacity to allocate photo assimilated to tuberous roots; however, information on dry mass (DM) accumulation and partitioning among plant organs remains limited, particularly under different plant population densities. This study evaluated the effect of plant population on assimilate allocation in two cassava cultivars with contrasting shoot architectures over two consecutive cultivation cycles. The experiment was conducted at the São Paulo Agency of Agribusiness Technology (APTA), Assis, SP, Brazil, using a randomized block design with four replications, arranged in a split-plot scheme. Cultivars were assigned to the main plots, and evaluation times to the subplots. Dry mass accumulation was quantified in leaves, branches, stems, and tuberous roots.
Both cultivars, ‘Branca de Santa Catarina’ (BSC) and ‘Fibra’, exhibited low investment of DM in leaves throughout the cycles. From 120 to 360 days after planting (DAP), higher DM accumulation occurred in branches and stems in both cultivars. Dry mass accumulation in tuberous roots increased continuously over time, with ‘Fibra’ showing a predominantly linear growth pattern. In general, both cultivars allocated proportionally more resources to leaf development during the first cultivation cycle, regardless of plant population density. Growth in ‘BSC’ was more seasonal, whereas ‘Fibra’ exhibited more stable development across cycles. ‘BSC’ showed a longer tuberous root growth period, while ‘Fibra’ presented continuous root growth. Overall, ‘Fibra’ proved to be more suitable for achieving higher yields due to its greater tolerance to high plant densities and higher efficiency in allocating dry mass to tuberous roots compared with ‘BSC’.
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