ASSESSMENT OF MINITUBERS DERIVED FROM VINE CUTTINGS AND YAM MINISETT FOR SEED YAM PRODUCTION IN Dioscorea alata L. and Dioscorea rotundata poir
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Abstract
Dioscorea alata L. and Dioscorea rotundata Poir remain the most widely cultivated yam
species in the tropics, where yam is a major food and income crop. However, the
availability of clean, affordable, and disease-free seed yam is still a major constraint to
production. This study evaluated the growth performance and seed tuber yield of
minitubers generated from vine cuttings and yam minisetts across several yam cultivars. For the minituber experiment, improved cultivarsAkuabata, Vayam, Asiedu, Favourite and Super were used, while the minisett trial included Abakaliki 1, Abakaliki 2, Benin Local, Igiowa 1 and Igiowa 2. Both experiments were arranged using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Vine cuttings taken from the minituber plants were also used to examine the influence of four locally available potting media (sawdust, rice hull, grass, and corn cob) on the establishment and yield of minitubers under semi-autotrophic hydroponic conditions, using a Completely
Randomized Design (CRD). Seed yam yield per plant ranged from 267 g in Super to 467g in Asiedu in the minituber experiment, while minisett yield ranged from 200 g in
Abakaliki 1 to 717 g in Igiowa 1. Multiplication ratios were substantially higher in the
minituber system (1:46–1:75) compared to the minisett method (1:1.3–1:3.8). In the vine- cutting experiment, sawdust produced the highest survival rate (68%), followed by rice hull, grass, and corn cob. Overall, the study demonstrates that minitubers produced from vine cuttings represent a promising and efficient approach for generating high-quality seed yam in Dioscorea spp. Furthermore, readily available potting materials455565T45R such as sawdust, rice hull, and grass can be effectively used in humidity chambers for minituber production.
species in the tropics, where yam is a major food and income crop. However, the
availability of clean, affordable, and disease-free seed yam is still a major constraint to
production. This study evaluated the growth performance and seed tuber yield of
minitubers generated from vine cuttings and yam minisetts across several yam cultivars. For the minituber experiment, improved cultivarsAkuabata, Vayam, Asiedu, Favourite and Super were used, while the minisett trial included Abakaliki 1, Abakaliki 2, Benin Local, Igiowa 1 and Igiowa 2. Both experiments were arranged using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Vine cuttings taken from the minituber plants were also used to examine the influence of four locally available potting media (sawdust, rice hull, grass, and corn cob) on the establishment and yield of minitubers under semi-autotrophic hydroponic conditions, using a Completely
Randomized Design (CRD). Seed yam yield per plant ranged from 267 g in Super to 467g in Asiedu in the minituber experiment, while minisett yield ranged from 200 g in
Abakaliki 1 to 717 g in Igiowa 1. Multiplication ratios were substantially higher in the
minituber system (1:46–1:75) compared to the minisett method (1:1.3–1:3.8). In the vine- cutting experiment, sawdust produced the highest survival rate (68%), followed by rice hull, grass, and corn cob. Overall, the study demonstrates that minitubers produced from vine cuttings represent a promising and efficient approach for generating high-quality seed yam in Dioscorea spp. Furthermore, readily available potting materials455565T45R such as sawdust, rice hull, and grass can be effectively used in humidity chambers for minituber production.
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