The development of a new hybrid sweet shoot variety 'Wrinkie'

Chai, Chen Chong (2009) The development of a new hybrid sweet shoot variety 'Wrinkie'. Jabatan Pertanian Sarawak. pp. 1-12.

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Abstract

The sweet shoot, a common vegetable crop in Sarawak, has been given little attention as it is relatively an easy crop to grow. This scenario was taken over by events due to the outbreak of the bacterial stem blight disease (BSBD) incidence in the late ‘90s. BSBD which is a fatal disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris bacteria has wiped out a number of large commercial sweet shoot farms in Miri, Samarahan and Kuching Divisions. Since we had not been able to control the disease by agrochemical means, a breeding programme was initiated in 1999 as an alternative approach to overcome the disease. The main breeding objective was to breed for a resistant hybrid variety with high yield and quality shoots. The resultant elite variety or clone would then be recommended to farmers who wish to grow the crop, especially for the disease-prevailing areas. Under the crop improvement programme initiated by the vegetable research section at Semongok Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) in 1999, some selected accessions of sweet shoots were crossed. The progenies, First filial generation hybrids (F1 hybrids), were assessed on disease resistance, shoot yield and other relevant agronomic parameters. Field trials and on-farm verifications have proven that a selected new F1 hybrid named 'Wrinkie' has several outstanding traits, such as good yield, good eating quality shoots and good bacterial stem blight resistance. This recommended variety is now being made available to farmers for planting. The 'Wrinkie' variety has very crinkle dark green leaves which are sweet and very crispy. Market testing sales by farmers have shown its acceptance by consumers, especially for 'fast food' and 'Lui cha' food vendors.

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