This study on the floral phenology of cassava (Manihot esculentus Crantz) conducted at the Nkoemvone agricultural research station (southern Cameroon) aimed to study the floral phenology of cassava according to sowing dates and varieties to better plan crossbreeding and help conserve and improve varieties in the face of current constraints. Four sowing dates were evaluated based on the quantity of parameters produced, such as average number of primary branches (NR), average branching level (NIR), average number of clusters (NF), and average rate of aborted clusters (Tm), and on the synchronization of parameter growth values: average height of primary branching (HR), average distance between branches (DR), and interval between sowing and flower or cluster emergence (ISF). The data were collected over a period of ten days after the emergence of the first branch and six and a half months after sowing. The results show three periods that influence floral phenology during the year, ranging from June to October for the first, November to mid-February for the second, and March to May for the third. The average values of NR (11.25±0.57 branches), NIR (4.25±0.09 branch levels), and NF (49.35±7.4 clusters) are significantly higher during the period from June to October compared to the other periods. On the other hand, the average value of Tm (41±5.1%) is significantly higher for the period from November to February. From the end of February to the end of May, no flowering stage was observed. Furthermore, the optimal development of the average values of HR (1.44±0.07 m and 1.31±0.04 m for the improved and local varieties, respectively) and DR (45.01±0.8 cm and 47.41±1.8 cm for the local and improved varieties, respectively) and the ISF (82 days after sowing for the local variety and 147 days after sowing for the improved variety) show insignificant differences and early flowering of both varieties for the sowing season (DI), allowing for more efficient crossbreeding. In conclusion, the best time of year for favourable floral development is from June to October for both varieties, which allowed us to make crosses. In addition, the best season is the beginning of the short rainy season in March. This work clearly indicates that the values of environmental factors differ from one season to another and that this difference significantly influences flowering in this species. Furthermore, this result could be useful to geneticists and breeders when setting up cross-breeding blocks to reduce the overall selection time.
