Response of Several Local Cassava Clones to Gamma Ray Irradiation

Abstract Cassava has great potential as an alternative food source. In addition to its high carbohydrate content, cassava also has high productivity, more resistant to climate change, relatively tolerant to pest - disease, and tolerant to marginal land. Research activities to develop high-yielding cassava varieties that are suitable for food are needed to support food security. In 2023, a study was conducted on four potential local cassava varieties subjected to gamma-ray irradiation at a dose of 50 Gy (Tambak Urang, Lokal Ketan, Manggu, and Gajah Ungu). Cassava stem that radiated were planted in the Agrotechnopark experimental station of Tribhuwana Tunggadewi University in Malang, East Java. The highest of percentage of plants growing of the control clones at 21 days after planting (dap) was achieved by the Tambak Urang clone, which was 95%, but was not significantly different with the Gajah Ungu and Manggu clones. At a radiation level of 50 Gy, the percentage of growth was between 38.33 - 80.0%. Manggu variety that irradiated had the highest growth rate, but not significantly different with Tambak Urang. The tuber yield of the irradiated clones in M1V2 population ranged from 0 kg - 6.57 kg. A total of 119 mutant clones had higher tuber yields than the population average.