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