Abstract

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important source of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. This study represents the first comprehensive evaluation of a large collection of local cassava accessions from all eight agro-ecological zones in Vietnam. The analysis revealed that local cassava accessions of Vietnam had morphological diversity and there was a significant difference among the studied accessions with genetic distances ranging from 1 to 15.52. A majority of local cassava accessions in Vietnam exhibited the following morphological characteristics: straight growing habit of young stems (83%), cylindrical plant shape (56%), silver-green stem exterior color (56.5%), no branching (55.5%), prominent foliar scars (83.5%), serrate stipule margins (57%), seven lobes leaves (85%), oblanceolate central leaflet (53%), light green young leaves (67%), light green leaf vein (60.5%), purple petioles (55%) and 75–90 degrees angle of petiole insertion (75.5%). This research will contribute to the development of a systematic database for local cassava germplasm in Vietnam, aiding in the preservation and conservation of this genetic resource for the future. Evaluating the agro-morphological characters and yield of local cassava accessions will provide breeders baseline data for selection, breeding, and evaluation, and facilitate the management of the valuable and diverse germplasm currently available in Vietnam.