Abstract
The popularization of Dioscorea dumetorum (Dioscoreaceae), a nutritious yam species is still marginal due to constraints such as the low interest of research, poor cultural practices, insufficient and expensive seeds, pests, and diseases. The latter pushes producers to use about 50% of their harvest as seed for the next planting season. The lack of a specific fertilizer formulation for yam production on the oxysols of Cameroon is another constraint. This study was aimed at enhancing the availability of quality seeds through the characterization of five yam accessions. One experiment was performed to determine the effect of cultivar and origin of tuber sets on their germination rate. The second concerned the evaluation of cultivars and soil treatment effects on agronomic parameters of yam seedlings. Yam cultivars were subjected to nine fertilizer formulations as follows: T0: no fertilizer; T1: mycorrhizal fungi (MF) + 150 g manure + peanut waste; T2: 25 g chemical fertilizer (20.10.10); T3: MF + peanut waste; T4: 16 g chemical fertilizer (12.6.20); T5: 25 g (20.10.10) +100 g CaO + 150 g manure; T6: 100 g CaO + 150 g manure; T7: 20 g tropicote + 2 g DAP (Diammonium phosphate, a reference starter fertilizer coded N18P46) + 100 g CaO + 150 g manure; and T8: mycorrhiza. These treatments were tested in a factorial design. Results show that Ibo sweet 3 and Mabondji sweet white 1 yam accessions were less affected by anthracnose disease on the aerial parts. Guzang 1 showed the best germination rate and yield, making it appropriate for cultivation in the region. Soil treatments, T2, T5, T7 and T8 significantly increased the yield of yam cultivars. Mycorrhiza treatment alone gave a better response to seed weight, indicating the interest of this biofertilizer as a solution for good seedling production. These fertilizer treatments can be recommended to farmers for more seed production with optimum seed weight (300 g).
Highlights
Yams are cultivated in tropical and temperate zones
The first was to evaluate the effect of the cultivars on the aptitude for multiplication by the mini set technique, which in West Africa serves as a lever for the intensification of yam cultivation by making the seeds available
This result showed that the origin of the mini set on the tuber strongly influences its germination rate
Summary
Yams are cultivated in tropical and temperate zones. They belong to the family Dioscoreaceae which consists of 8 genera Avetra, Borderea, Dioscorea, Nanarepentia, Rajania, Stenomeris, Tamus and Trichopus and about 880 species. Cameroon is the sixth largest yam producer in the world far behind Nigeria (50 052 977 tons), Ghana (8 288 198 tons), Ivory Coast (7 176 762 tons), Benin (3,088,498 tons) and Togo (874 267 tons) [4]. The species cultivated in Cameroon are: D. dumetorum, D. esculenta, D. bulbifera, D. schimperiana, D. semperflorens, D. alata, D. burkilliana and D. cayenensis; they are often region-specific. They are cultivated in all agro-ecological zones of Cameroon. D. dumetorum is of great socio-economic [6] and medicinal values It has a higher nutritional value than other cultivated yams, and can be an important source of vitamin A due to its carotenoid content [7]. It has digestible starches due to their crystalline structure close to that of cereal starch [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
