Thesis (BS Biology) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2004

A field survey was conducted in the municipalities of Rosario, Talacogon, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur during the month of June and July 2003 to study the variations in morphological traits of sago. A total of 72 palms were observed. Qualitative and quantitative traits were recorded among the 72 palms and the relationships among these traits were investigated. Among the total of nine primary traits studied two were classified as qualitative; the rest were quantitative. The qualitative traits were: the pattern of bands at the back of the rachis and suckering pattern. There were four banding patterns at the back of the rachis namely, striped brown and white band, gray band, strong brown band and strong black band. The striped brown and white band and gray band has not yet been recorded in literature. Two suckering patterns were recorded. These patterns were classified as: Type1, when suckers arise from the rhizomes far from the mother plant and Type 2, when suckers arise from the base of the mother plant. The quantitative morphological variations in trunk and crown traits were mainly attributed to the differences caused by physiological age. Palms of similar growth stages did not exhibit morphological variation. Investigation on the relationships of the qualitative traits and the components of trunk volume showed that the banding pattern at the back of the rachis and the suckering pattern could be used as indicators of yield. A total of eight varieties were identified on the basis of the combination of banding and suckering patterns