Evaluation of collected Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) Gray materials in the Sancti Spíritus area in central-eastern Cuba

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) Gray materials collected in the Sancti Spíritus region of central-eastern Cuba.

Materials and Methods: To study the growth of nine T. diversifolia materials collected in the Sancti Spíritus region of central-eastern Cuba, ten replicas were used in a complete randomized design under rainfed conditions and without fertilization. The indicators plant, first branch and green leaf height (cm), number of leaves and branches, stems, and their diameter (mm) were determined, and pest and disease monitoring was conducted. These samples were evaluated every 15 days for 12 weeks.

Results: Multivariate analysis showed that 79,83 % of the variability in the components structure (64,07 %) and leaves (15,76 %) was explained in the rainy season, and 77,32 % of the structure (59,36 %) and leaves (17,95 %) in the dry season. The variables with the greatest prevalence in the rainy season were plant height, first branch and green leaf, number of dry leaves, and stem diameter in the first component; while in the other, the number of stems, total and yellow leaves/plant stood out, all with positive values.

Conclusions: Material 8 showed stable and adequate growth in both climate seasons; while the indicators of material 10 were inadequate and showed slow recovery in the dry season.