Research Article
Phenotypic Characterization, Evaluation, and Classification of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Accessions in Ethiopia
Table 3
The frequency distribution of 30 qualitative characters and Shannon–Weaver diversity index (H′) on 64 cassava accessions.
| | No. | Qualitative character | Variants | Scoring | n | Frequency (%) | H′ |
| | 1 | Color of apical leaves | Dark green | 5 | 3 | 6.25 | 0.88 | | Purplish green | 7 | 48.44 | | Purple | 9 | 45.31 |
| | 2 | Pubescence on apical leaves | Absent | 0 | 2 | 46.88 | 0.69 | | Present | 1 | 53.12 |
| | 3 | Shape of central leaflet | Ovoid | 1 | 6 | 4.69 | 1.45 | | Elliptic-lanceolate | 2 | 26.56 | | Obovate-lanceolate | 3 | 3.13 | | Oblong-lanceolate | 4 | 21.88 | | Lanceolate | 5 | 39.06 | | Straight or linear | 6 | 4.68 |
| | 4 | Leaf retention | Very poor retention | 1 | 5 | 9.38 | 1.43 | | Less than average retention | 2 | 14.06 | | Average leaf retention | 3 | 14.06 | | Better than average retention | 4 | 45.31 | | Outstanding leaf retention | 5 | 17.19 |
| | 5 | Petiole color | Yellowish green | 1 | 5 | 21.88 | 1.47 | | Reddish green | 3 | 25 | | Greenish red | 5 | 7.81 | | Red | 7 | 35.94 | | Purple | 9 | 9.37 |
| | 6 | Leaf color | Light green | 3 | 2 | 45.31 | 0.69 | | Dark green | 5 | 54.69 |
| | 7 | Number of leaf lobe | Five lobes | 5 | 3 | 6.25 | 0.87 | | Seven lobes | 7 | 54.69 | | Nine lobes | 9 | 39.06 |
| | 8 | Lobe margins | Smooth | 3 | 2 | 48.44 | 0.69 | | Winding | 7 | 51.56 |
| | 9 | Color of leaf vein | Green | 3 | 3 | 75.00 | 0.74 | | Reddish green in less than half of the lobe | 5 | 12.5 | | Reddish green in more than half of the lobe | 7 | 12.5 |
| | 10 | Orientation of petiole | Inclined upwards | 1 | 3 | 31.25 | 0.83 | | Horizontal | 3 | 62.5 | | Inclined downwards | 5 | 6.25 |
| | 11 | Prominence of foliar scars | Semiprominent | 3 | 2 | 34.38 | 0.64 | | Prominent | 5 | 65.62 |
| | 12 | Color of stem cortex | Orange | 1 | 2 | 4.69 | 0.26 | | Light green | 2 | 95.31 |
| | 13 | Color of stem epidermis | Cream | 1 | 3 | 25 | 0.93 | | Light brown | 2 | 14.06 | | Orange | 4 | 60.94 |
| | 14 | Color of stem exterior | Orange | 3 | 4 | 3.13 | 0.89 | | Greeny-yellowish | 4 | 28.13 | | Golden | 5 | 4.69 | | Silver | 7 | 64.05 |
| | 15 | Growth habit of stem | Straight | 1 | 2 | 76.56 | 0.55 | | Zigzag | 2 | 23.44 |
| | 16 | Distance between leaf scars | Short ≤ (8 cm) | 3 | 3 | 45.31 | 1.01 | | Medium (8–15 cm) | 5 | 40.63 | | Long ≥ (15 cm) | 7 | 14.06 |
| | 17 | Color of end branches of adult plant | Green | 3 | 2 | 54.69 | 0.69 | | Green-purple | 5 | 45.31 |
| | 18 | Stipule margin | Entire | 1 | 2 | 20.31 | 0.51 | | Split or forked | 2 | 79.69 |
| | 19 | Length of stipules | Short | 3 | 2 | 62.5 | 0.66 | | Long | 5 | 37.5 |
| | 20 | Branching habit | Erect | 1 | 4 | 12.5 | 1.33 | | Dichotomous | 2 | 29.69 | | Trichotomous | 3 | 32.81 | | Tetrachotomous | 4 | 25 |
| | 21 | Shape of plant | Compact | 1 | 4 | 31.25 | 1.36 | | Open | 2 | 31.25 | | Umbrella | 3 | 18.75 | | Cylindrical | 4 | 18.75 |
| | 22 | Fruit | Absent | 0 | 2 | 9.38 | 0.31 | | Present | 1 | 90.62 |
| | 23 | Seed | Absent | 0 | 2 | 9.38 | 0.31 | | Present | 1 | 90.62 |
| | 24 | Root constrictions | Few to none | 1 | 2 | 93.75 | 0.24 | | Some | 2 | 6.25 |
| | 25 | Root shape | Conical | 1 | 4 | 20.31 | 1.31 | | Conical-cylindrical | 2 | 42.19 | | Cylindrical | 3 | 23.44 | | Irregular | 4 | 14.06 |
| | 26 | External color of storage root | White or cream | 1 | 4 | 34.38 | 1.23 | | Yellow | 2 | 32.81 | | Light brown | 3 | 28.13 | | Dark brown | 4 | 4.68 |
| | 27 | Color of root pulp | White | 1 | 4 | 53.13 | 0.92 | | Cream | 2 | 40.63 | | Yellow | 3 | 3.13 | | Pink | 5 | 3.11 |
| | 28 | Color of root cortex | White or cream | 1 | 3 | 31.25 | 1.10 | | Yellow | 2 | 25 | | Pink | 3 | 43.75 |
| | 29 | Cortex: ease of peeling | Easy | 1 | 2 | 43.75 | 0.69 | | Difficult | 2 | 56.25 |
| | 30 | Texture of root epidermis | Smooth | 3 | 2 | 65.62 | 0.64 | | Rough | 7 | 34.38 |
| | | Overall mean | | | | | 0.84 |
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