| Summary: | Vegetative Growth and Yield Potential in Cassava. Cassava processing into derived products implies using clones with high yield potential and high dry matter content. This study analyses the evolution in plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, dry weight of the storage roots and their dry matter content during the vegetative cycle. Four improved cassava clones (8017, 8034, 8061, and 820516) and a local clone (control) were used as planting material. Observations were made 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months after planting. The results obtained show that: (i) there is no significant difference between the height of the local clone and that of two improved clones (8034 and 820516) 12 months after planting; (ii) no significant difference was also noted in the number of leaves; (iii) leaf area in the local clone is significantly smaller than in the improved clones as well as the dry weight of the storage roots. The difference in fresh storage root yields and their dry matter content could result from the volume of leaf canopy, their interception of solar radiation, the canopy photosynthetic activity and the speed of translocation of nutrients from the leaves to the storage roots during the vegetative cycle.
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