List of descriptors used for the characterization of the CATIE cassava collection (Engels, 1981). This list was prepared based on the descriptors of EMBRAPA (1980), Engels (1977) and Nestel and MacIntyre (1975)
Engels, J. 1981. Catálogo de la colección de yuca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) del CATIE. Serie técnica, boletín técnico 2. CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza), Unidad de Recursos Genéticos, Turrialba, Costa Rica, 40 p.
The Methuen color chart (Kornerup & Wanscher, 1978) was used to determine the color
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1A1 | White | |
| 3A2 | Yellowish white | |
| 4A2 | Yellowish white | |
| 4A3 | Pale yellow | |
| 4A4 | Light yellow | |
| 5A2 | Orange white | |
| 5A3 | Pale orange | |
| 5A4 | Light orange | |
| 5A5 | Light orange | |
| 5A6 | Orange | |
| 5A7 | Orange | |
| 5B3 | Grayish orange | |
| 5B4 | Grayish orange | |
| 5B5 | Grayish orange | |
| 5B6 | Grayish orange | |
| 5C5 | Orange brown | |
| 5C8 | Brown yellow | |
| 6A2 | Orange white | |
| 6A3 | Pale orange | |
| 6A4 | Light orange | |
| 6A5 | Light orange | |
| 6A6 | Orange | |
| 6A7 | Orange | |
| 6B4 | Grayish orange | |
| 6B6 | Grayish orange | |
| 6B7 | Orange | |
| 6B8 | Orange | |
| 6C6 | Orange brown | |
| 6C7 | Orange brown | |
| 6C8 | Orange brown | |
| 6D7 | Light brown | |
| 7A4 | Pastel red | |
| 7A7 | Reddish orange | |
| 7B5 | Grayish red | |
| 7B8 | Reddish orange | |
| 7C6 | Orange brown | |
| 7C7 | Orange brown | |
| 7C8 | Orange brown | |
| 7D6 | Light brown | |
| 7D7 | Coffee | |
| 7D8 | Coffee | |
| 7E8 | Coffee | |
| 8B6 | Grayish red | |
| 8C7 | Brown red | |
| 8C8 | Brown red | |
| 8D8 | Reddish brown | |
| 8E8 | Reddish brown | |
| 9D8 | Reddish brown | |
| 10A2 | Pink white | |
| 10A3 | Pale red | |
| 10A4 | Pastel red | |
| 10A5 | Pastel red | |
| 10B5 | Grayish red | |
| 11A3 | Pale red | |
| 11A4 | Pastel pink | |
| 11B5 | Grayish pink | |
| 12A2 | Pink white |
The Methuen color chart (Kornerup & Wanscher, 1978) was used to determine the color
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1A1 | White | |
| 3A2 | Yellowish white | |
| 4A2 | Yellowish white | |
| 4A3 | Pale yellow | |
| 4A4 | Light yellow | |
| 5A2 | Orange white | |
| 5A3 | Pale orange | |
| 5A4 | Light orange | |
| 5A5 | Light orange | |
| 5A6 | Orange | |
| 5A7 | Orange | |
| 5B3 | Grayish orange | |
| 5B4 | Grayish orange | |
| 5B5 | Grayish orange | |
| 5B6 | Grayish orange | |
| 5C5 | Orange brown | |
| 5C8 | Brown yellow | |
| 6A2 | Orange white | |
| 6A3 | Pale orange | |
| 6A4 | Light orange | |
| 6A5 | Light orange | |
| 6A6 | Orange | |
| 6A7 | Orange | |
| 6B4 | Grayish orange | |
| 6B6 | Grayish orange | |
| 6B7 | Orange | |
| 6B8 | Orange | |
| 6C6 | Orange brown | |
| 6C7 | Orange brown | |
| 6C8 | Orange brown | |
| 6D7 | Light brown | |
| 7A4 | Pastel red | |
| 7A7 | Reddish orange | |
| 7B5 | Grayish red | |
| 7B8 | Reddish orange | |
| 7C6 | Orange brown | |
| 7C7 | Orange brown | |
| 7C8 | Orange brown | |
| 7D6 | Light brown | |
| 7D7 | Coffee | |
| 7D8 | Coffee | |
| 7E8 | Coffee | |
| 8B6 | Grayish red | |
| 8C7 | Brown red | |
| 8C8 | Brown red | |
| 8D8 | Reddish brown | |
| 8E8 | Reddish brown | |
| 9D8 | Reddish brown | |
| 10A2 | Pink white | |
| 10A3 | Pale red | |
| 10A4 | Pastel red | |
| 10A5 | Pastel red | |
| 10B5 | Grayish red | |
| 11A3 | Pale red | |
| 11A4 | Pastel pink | |
| 11B5 | Grayish pink | |
| 12A3 | Pink white |
Root shape
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conical | |
| 2 | Fusiform | |
| 3 | Conical cylinder | |
| 4 | Cylindrical | |
| 5 | Irregular (Combination of above) |
Counting of roots with diameter between 5 and 10 cm in the thickest part of the roots
Counting of roots with a diameter greater than 10 cm at the thickest part
Total weight of roots per plant measured in kilograms
Refers to the length of the peduncle
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sessile (Less than 1 cm) | |
| 2 | Short (1 to 8cm) | |
| 3 | Long (More than 8 cm) | |
| 4 | Irregular (Combination of the above) |
Refers to the ease of harvesting roots either by hand or with additional help
Legend:
Very easy
Easy
Intermediate
Difficult
Very difficult
It is determined by the color of litmus paper based on a chemical reaction between hydrocyanic acid (HCN) and picric acid
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yellow (No HCN in measurable form) | |
| 2 | Pink (Moderately poisonous) | |
| 3 | Red (Very poisonous) |
Organoleptic tasting of cooked roots
Legend:
Very bad (bitter)
Malo
Intermediate (Paleatable)
Good
Very good (Very tasty)
It is determined by organoleptic tasting of cooked roots
Legend:
Fibrous
Low fibrous
No fibers
It is determined by organoleptic tasting of cooked roots
Legend:
Dura
Intermediate
Soft