EFFECTS OF WATER TEMPERATURE ON THE EARLY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TARO

Abstract

Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L) Schott) plants exposed to 28°C water temperature exhibited better plant growth and leaf area development, more and longer roots and higher dry matter content than those grown at other water temperature, i.e., 18-22°C (normal) and 37°C. Inferior vegetative growth and least and shortest roots were noted in plants grown at 37°C. In a follow-up experiment conducted using 2 taro varieties, production of higher number and significantly longest roots was found to be greatly favored by a temperature range of 27-29°C. Reduction in both number and length of roots occurred when temperature became higher but drastic effect of temperature was very apparent at 36-38°C. Temperature beyond 29°C seemed to be detrimental to root growth in newly planted taro. At 36-38°C, roots of the 2 varieties used did not grow beyond 2 cm.