Growth, tuber yield, and starch content of arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) accessions on different altitudes and tree shades

Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) is an herbaceous plant that is widely grown under the shade of trees and has the potential to be cultivated as a source of food, medicine, feed, fibers, biopolymers, and biopolymer composites industries. The purpose of the research was to identify the growth, tuber yield, and starch content of arrowroot accessions planted at different altitudes and tree shades in Garut District, West Java, Indonesia. A factorial design using a randomized block design with four blocks was used to analyze the field performance of 6 arrowroot accessions planted under different altitudes (low, medium, and high altitudes) and under different sengon (Falcataria moluccana) tree ages, i.e., 1-, 2- and 3-years. The result showed that the altitude, tree shade, and accession significantly affected the growth, tuber, and starch yield. The plant height, leaf area, number of tillers, plant biomass, and tuber yield tends to decrease with increasing altitude. The growth parameters showed a positive correlation with tuber biomass and starch content, indicating that the growth could be a good indicator for genotype selection. Cultivation of arrowroot in the lowland area under sengon tree stand of 3 years old provided the highest tuber biomass and starch yield. The best accession for starch yield in low and medium altitude areas is the Limbangan accession, but for the highland areas, the Cilawu accession had the highest starch yield.