Analysis of changes in morphological characteristics of leaves and stems in some sweet potato cultivars (Ipomoea batatas L.) from Simalungun and Dairi highlands planting in the lowlands

Abstract

Sweet potatoes can grow in the lowlands and highlands. The ability of sweet potatoes to grow outside their provenance is determined by their ability to adapt to new environments that can be seen from changes in agronomic character. This research aimed to analyse the changes in the morphological character of leaves and stems in some sweet potato cultivars from the Simalungun and Dairi Highlands planted in the lowlands. The experiment was conducted from April to August 2018 in the experimental garden in Cengkeh Turi Village, Binjai. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with one factor, namely the sweet potato plant genotype consisting of 5 genotypes from different accessions (accession of Saribu Dolok Simalungun, accession of Kesemak Simalungun, accession of Batang Beruh Dairi, accession of Binjai and variety of Beta-1). The results showed that cultivars of sweet potato G5 (Seribu Dolok), G6 (Kampung Kesemak) and G10 (Batang Beruh) originating from the highlands of Simalungun and Dairi as well as Beta-1 have leaf and character if planted in the lowlands. The three cultivars from the highlands were able to grow well in the lowlands while in the accession of a thousand land did not have differences in morphology.