Breeding is the most economical approach for controlling production constraints in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) smallholder farms. This study aims at assessing the performances of elite cassava clones in the province of Kwilu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Three sets of trials were established using an alpha lattice and a randomized complete block designs in two contrasting locations, upland savanna and valley forest agroecologies. Eleven traits were used in phenotyping the cassava clones along with two checks varieties (local cultivar Biele and improved variety OBAMA). High heritability was recorded for the traits and it ranged from 0.52 to 0.75 except for yield (0.45). They are significant differences between the tested clones and the improved variety OBAMA. Overall, the Best Linear Unbiased Estimates (BLUEs) used for weighing in the selection index led to two candidate clones, KYK2016-048 and KYK2015-04 that outperformed both checks, Obama and Biele in this study and they could be potential candidates for variety replacement.

Mouritala Sikirouhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5164-6456

Kayondo Siraj Ismailhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3212-5727

Paterne AGREhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1231-2530

Biotech and Plant Breeding

Agronomy; Cassava; Food Security; Forestry; Plant Breeding; Plant Production; Smallholder Farmers

Breeding; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Cassava; Manihot Esculenta; Savannas; Forests; Yields

Africa; Central Africa

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Eastern Africa Hub; Headquarters and Western Africa Hub

Revue Ivoirienne des Sciences et Technologie