Tuber Crops Research Articles

Resistance of Dried Chips of Three Yam Cultivars to Damage by Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

Yam (Dioscorea spp) is one of the most common tuber crops consumed by man due to its nutritional benefits. Yam tubers are often processed into products like Dry Yam Chips (DYC) to minimize postharvest losses. The crop could be processed into other products to reduce perishability and scarcity at certain periods. The insect is mainly controlled with conventional insecticides. However, use of conventional insecticide in preserving DYC is contentious due to concerns about undesirable effects on consumers. This has necessitated the search for safer and more effective control strategies such as resistance traits that is innate. The study was therefore conducted to evaluate the resistance of three yam species (Dioscorea cayenensis, D. rotundata, and D. alata) used in making DYC to infestation and damage by Larger Grain Borer (LGB). Two hundred (200) g of parboiled DYC were weighed into 250 ml Kilner jars and separately infested with twenty adult LGB of 0-5 days old. The treatments were replicated four times and arranged on the experimental table using Completely Randomized Design (CRD). At 90 days post-infestation, the insects were sieved out to separate insects from DYC. Data were collected on weight loss of DYC, damage to DYC, adult mortality of LGB, dust of DYC, and number of emerged LGB. The percentage damage of LGB to DYC of D. alata and D. rotundata was 100.00% and 96.43%, respectively, which were not significantly (p> 0.05) different from each other. The percentage weight loss (70.61) of DYC of D. alata was significantly (p< 0.05) higher than the weight loss in D. cayenensis (28.63) and D. rotundata (46.27). The percent weight loss in the DYC of D. cayenensis was significantly (p< 0.05) lower than the weight loss in DYC of D. alata (70.61) and D. rotundata (46.27). The number of adult LGB (539.80) in the DYC of D. alata was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the number of the insect in D. cayenensis (117.8) and D. rotundata (216.80). The number of adult mortality of LGB in the DYC of D. alata (38.50) and D. cayenensis (21.12) is comparable, but significantly lower than number of adult mortality of the insect in D. rotundata (41.50) DYC. The number of the insect larvae in DYC of D. cayenensis (4.25) was significantly (p< 0.05) lower than the number of the larvae of LGB in DYC of D. alata (30.00) and D. rotundata (21.00). DYC of D. cayenensis and D. rotundata were moderately resistant to damage by LGB and could be use in preparation of DYC to mitigate damage of LGB to DYC in storage before use.

Dataset of the suitability of major food crops in Africa under climate change

Understanding the extent and adapting to the impacts of climate change in the agriculture sector in Africa requires robust data on which technical and policy decisions can be based. However, there are no publicly available comprehensive data of which crops are suitable where under current and projected climate conditions for impact assessments and targeted adaptation planning. We developed a dataset on crop suitability of 23 major food crops (eight cereals, six legumes & pulses, six root & tuber crops, and three in banana-related family) for rainfed agriculture in Africa in terms of area and produced quantity. This dataset is based on the EcoCrop model parameterized with temperature, precipitation and soil data and is available for the historical period and until mid-century. The scenarios used for future projections are SSP1:RCP2.6, SSP3:RCP7.0 and SSP5:RCP8.5. The dataset provides a quantitative assessment of the impacts of climate change on crop production potential and can enable applications and linkages of crop impact studies to other socioeconomic aspects, thereby facilitating more comprehensive understanding of climate change impacts and assessment of options for building resilience.

Whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics reveal candidate genes associated with quality traits in Dioscorea alata

BackgroundQuality traits are essential determinants of consumer preferences. Dioscorea alata (Greater Yam), is a starchy tuber crop in tropical regions. However, a comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis underlying yam tuber quality remains elusive. To address this knowledge gap, we employed population genomics and candidate gene association approaches to unravel the genetic factors influencing the quality attributes of boiled yam.Methods and ResultsComparative genomics analysis of 45 plant species revealed numerous novel genes absent in the existing D. alata gene annotation. This approach, adding 48% more genes, significantly enhanced the functional annotation of three crucial metabolic pathways associated with boiled yam quality traits: pentose and glucuronate interconversions, starch and sucrose metabolism, and flavonoid biosynthesis. In addition, the whole-genome sequencing of 127 genotypes identified 27 genes under selection and 22 genes linked to texture, starch content, and color through a candidate gene association analysis. Notably, five genes involved in starch content and cell wall composition, including 1,3-beta Glucan synthase, β-amylase, and Pectin methyl esterase, were common to both approaches and their expression levels were assessed by transcriptomic data.ConclusionsThe analysis of the whole-genome of 127 genotypes of D. alata and the study of three specific pathways allowed the identification of important genes for tuber quality. Our findings provide insights into the genetic basis of yam quality traits and will help the enhancement of yam tuber quality through breeding programs.

Reorienting research investments toward under‐researched crops for sustainable food systems

AbstractThe dominance of a few staple crops (maize, rice, and wheat) in most agricultural systems hampers the application of interventions to improve food security and nutrition. Research and development attention has focused on improving the production and utilization of these crops, leaving other crops under‐researched and underutilized. Subsequently, there have been high malnutrition rates due to poor diet diversity, yet there are “opportunity crops” that remain under researched. The opportunity crops can unlock solutions to food insecurity, malnutrition, a lack of biodiversity, and indeed poor climate adaptation. The study explored diversification in agricultural systems to analyze whether reorientation of research investment to include under‐researched crops can increase nutrient gain and enhance dietary diversity. Research outputs benchmarked as the number of publications from three leading African universities, Nairobi, Pretoria, and Ghana, were related to crop diversity and nutrition of crops in five clusters: cereals, vegetables, legumes, roots and tubers, and nuts. The findings show that maize was the predominantly researched crop across the three institutions. Low research outputs were observed for pearl millet, finger millet, and yam across the three institutions: amaranth and nightshade (Pretoria), sweet potatoes (Pretoria and Ghana), Marama bean (Nairobi), and soya bean (Nairobi and Ghana). There was nutrient gain across all five clusters, particularly from under‐researched indigenous crops such as finger millet, amaranth, nightshade, yam, sweet potatoes, Marama bean, and soybean. Nutrient gain was contributed more by cereals and root and tuber crops from Pretoria, vegetables and nuts (Ghana), as well as legumes (Nairobi). The findings demonstrate that incorporating research on the least researched crops with successful integration of other research and development initiatives (policy and dissemination) can increase nutrition and improve dietary diversity. The nutrient gain will positively affect food security and nutrition, contributing to the achievement of Africa Agenda 2063, the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, and reducing food imports. The findings can inform research investment and decision across different institutions within the African continent. Research investment targeting crops such as finger millet, amaranthus, sweet potatoes, soya beans, and cashew nuts is needed considering the nutritional contribution, climate change adaptability, market potential, and biodiversity contribution. Further analysis should explore production, socio‐economic (marketability and income generation), and environmental gains (adaptive ability to climate change) for specific crops. The development of frameworks to guide the analysis of the nature and scope of factors affecting the contribution of these crops to food security and nutrition, as well as research on specific crops considering geographic distribution and institutional involvement, is also needed.

Non-destructive real-time monitoring of underground root development with distributed fiber optic sensing

Crop genetic engineering for better root systems can offer practical solutions for food security and carbon sequestration; however, soil layers prevent the direct visualization of plant roots, thus posing a challenge to effective phenotyping. Here, we demonstrate an original device with a distributed fiber-optic sensor for fully automated, real-time monitoring of underground root development. We show that spatially encoding an optical fiber with a flexible and durable polymer film in a spiral pattern can significantly enhance sensor detection. After signal processing, the resulting device can detect the penetration of a submillimeter-diameter object in the soil, indicating more than a magnitude higher spatiotemporal resolution than previously reported with underground monitoring techniques. Additionally, we also developed computational models to visualize the roots of tuber crops and monocotyledons and then applied them to radish and rice to compare the results with those of X-ray computed tomography. The device’s groundbreaking sensitivity and spatiotemporal resolution enable seamless and laborless phenotyping of root systems that are otherwise invisible underground.

Identification and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum truncatum causing yam anthracnose – A new record in China

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a significant tuber crop. In October 2022, yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) leaves exhibiting typical anthracnose symptoms were observed at the Yam Germplasm Resource Nursery of Wen County, Jiaozuo City, Henan Province, China. The disease incidence was recorded at 92.05%. The symptoms manifested as brown to dark brown circular or irregular large spots on the leaves, some of which displayed noticeable irregular concentric rings. A total of 23 isolates were obtained, with JCHN023-1 and JCHN003 isolates being the representative. The pathogen was successfully re-isolated from lesions of inoculated leaves, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Morphologically, the conidia appeared colorless, crescent-shaped, circular blunt at both ends, and measured (15.2-) 18.2–30 (−34.1) × (2.1-) 2.3–3.9 (−4.2) μm in length (average = 24.1 × 3.1 μm) without septa. The setae were black-brown and exhibited 1-4 septa. Subsequently, a multigene phylogenetic analysis, involving internal transcribed spacer (ITS), partial actin (ACT), chitin synthase 1 (CHS-1) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), identified the fungus as Colletotrichum truncatum. Inoculation of detached leaves from 10 varieties of D. opposita confirmed their broad-spectrum pathogenicity to yam. This represents the first report of yam anthracnose caused by C. truncatum in China and provides a theoretical foundation for yam anthracnose prevention and control.

Unraveling the Molecular Basis of Color Variation in Dioscorea alata Tubers: Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolomics Analysis.

Dioscorea alata L. (Dioscoreaceae) is a widely cultivated tuber crop with variations in tuber color, offering potential value as health-promoting foods. This study focused on the comparison of D. alata tubers possessing two distinct colors, white and purple, to explore the underlying mechanisms of color variation. Flavonoids, a group of polyphenols known to influence plant color and exhibit antioxidant properties, were of particular interest. The total phenol and total flavonoid analyses revealed that purple tubers (PTs) have a significantly higher content of these metabolites than white tubers (WTs) and a higher antioxidant activity than WTs, suggesting potential health benefits of PT D. alata. The transcriptome analysis identified 108 differentially expressed genes associated with the flavonoid synthesis pathway, with 57 genes up-regulated in PTs, including CHS, CHI, DFR, FLS, F3H, F3'5'H, LAR, ANS, and ANR. The metabolomics analysis demonstrated that 424 metabolites, including 104 flavonoids and 8 tannins, accumulated differentially in PTs and WTs. Notably, five of the top ten up-regulated metabolites were flavonoids, including 6-hydroxykaempferol-7-O-glucoside, pinocembrin-7-O-(6″-O-malonyl)glucoside, 6-hydroxykaempferol-3,7,6-O-triglycoside, 6-hydroxykaempferol-7-O-triglycoside, and cyanidin-3-O-(6″-O-feruloyl)sophoroside-5-O-glucoside, with the latter being a precursor to anthocyanin synthesis. Integrating transcriptome and metabolomics data revealed that the 57 genes regulated 20 metabolites within the flavonoid synthesis pathway, potentially influencing the tubers' color variation. The high polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of PTs indicate their suitability as nutritious and health-promoting food sources. Taken together, the findings of this study provide insights into the molecular basis of tuber color variation in D. alata and underscore the potential applications of purple tubers in the food industry and human health promotion. The findings contribute to the understanding of flavonoid biosynthesis and pigment accumulation in D. alata tubers, opening avenues for future research on enhancing the nutritional quality of D. alata cultivars.

Thiamethoxam Application Improves Yield and Drought Resistance of Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.).

(1) Background: Potato is the most important tuber crop in the world that can contribute to food security. However, the crop has been shown to be sensitive to drought and its yields decline significantly during successive periods of stress. Drought triggers a number of responses in potato, ranging from physiological changes to fluctuations in growth rates and yields. In light of global climate change, it is important to understand the effects of thiamethoxam on potato growth and yield under drought conditions. (2) Methods: The objective was to evaluate the impact of thiamethoxam on improving drought resistance and yield of potato under drought conditions. The drought-tolerant and sensitive-genotypes Qingshu No. 9 and Atlantic were used for a two-year pot experiment. Potato seeds were coated with 70% thiamethoxam before sowing (treatment group (T)), with a control group without treatment (NT). Two experimental treatments were applied: normal irrigation (ND) and drought stress (D). (3) Results: The results showed that root length, plant yield, chlorophyll content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity significantly increased under both genotypes, while malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline (Pro) content were reduced under thiamethoxam under drought stress. The best indicators were obtained in the comprehensive evaluation for the T-D treatment, suggesting that the application of thiamethoxam under drought stress was more effective than normal irrigation. (4) Conclusions: Our results suggest that the application of thiamethoxam improves potato growth, thereby increasing drought tolerance and potato yield. However, thiamethoxam is a neonicotinoid pesticide, and the limitation of this study is that it did not explore the ecological effects of thiamethoxam, which need to be systematically studied in the future. Moreover, considering the potential risks of thiamethoxam to the environment, specific agronomic measures to effectively degrade thiamethoxam residue should be taken when it is applied in agricultural production.

Morphological diversity, correlation studies, and multiple-traits selection for yield and yield components of local cowpea varieties

Abstract The evaluation of the diversity in the cowpea local varieties (CLVs) allows the efficient use of genetic resources for cultivar development. This study aimed to evaluate the diversity of CLVs based on observation of morphological characteristics and to identify the relationship among morphological traits and potential varieties as donor genes to improve yield potential. The CLVs were collected from five provinces in Indonesia during 2017–2018. The evaluation of the performance of CLVs’ morphological characteristics was carried out in the Indonesian Legumes and Tuber Crops Research from March to July 2019. The observed data were 43 agronomic characters which consist of qualitative and quantitative characters. There is a high variation in stem pigmentation and seed color in 214 CLVs. There were nine qualitative characters with no variation. Most quantitative characters showed significant variation among CLVs. The clustering of 214 CLVs results in five clusters in which some CLVs maintain valuable characteristics that could be used in the breeding program. The number of pods per plant, number of racemes per plant, and 100 seed weight were useful for indirect selection in the yield improvement. Based on the genotype by trait biplot, the CLV 112, 191, and 111 could be used as donor parents for seed size improvement and the CLV 169 could be used as a donor parent for the yield potential improvement in the cowpea breeding program. Four cowpea genotypes can be recommended for commercial release or used as potential breeding material in cowpea cultivar development programs. The new findings of this study could provide a basis for the genetic improvement of cowpea.

MOF-525 mixed-matrix membrane-based extraction combined GC-MS for determination of pesticides in root and tuber crops

As global food, it has important implications for monitoring and testing of pesticide pollution in the root and tuber crops. Herein, a novel mixed-matrix membrane based on metal-organic frameworks (MOF-525-MMM) was successfully prepared for a simplified dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) of ten kinds of pesticides in root and tuber crops. The MOF-525-MMM was well characterized and major factors affecting extraction process were systematically investigated. Under optimal conditions, the MOF-525-MMM based d-SPE coupled with GC-MS exhibited excellent linearity (R2 ≥ 0.9947) and detection limits of 0.80-4.16 µg/L. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to the determination of pesticides in potatoes and sweet potatoes, with recoveries in range of 65.3-92.5% and RSDs lower than 9.8%. In the extraction process, MOF-525-MMM exhibited excellent extraction efficiency and purified ratio. Therefore, the adsorption mechanism was studied, and the results indicated that it was attributed to the π-π stacking effect and hydrogen bond between MOF-525 and pesticides. It was demonstrated that this d-SPE-GC-MS method based on MOF-525-MMM offers great potential for efficient extraction and determination of pesticides in root and tuber crops.

Host response of five potato cultivars to Meloidogyne nematodes

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a well-known food crop that is regarded as an important component in the worldwide battle against hunger and malnutrition. Root-knot nematodes (RKN), Meloidogyne species, are a serious limitation in the potato industry. Potato, being a tuberous crop, yield reduction is mainly due to tuber quality and quantity. In order to evaluate the response of five commercial potato cultivars, viz ‘Buffelspoort 1’, ‘Hertha’, ‘Larnoma’, ‘Mnandi’ and ‘Up-to-date’ to two RKN species, viz M. enterolobii and M. javanica; pot experiments were conducted under net house conditions. Ten separate experiments, each with treatments: 0, 500, 1500, 2500 and 3500 eggs + second-stage juveniles (J2), were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replicates. Fifty-six days after inoculation, nematode effect on plant yield was evaluated. Potato tubers were assessed for root galls, and nematodes reproductive factor (RF) was computed. There were significant differences amongst treatments on the following potato growth parameters: plant height, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, number of tubers and tuber weight in both M. enterolobii and M. javanica (P ≤ 0.05). The RF was above unity (one) in all potato cultivars for both M. enterolobii and M. javanica; with M. enterolobii showing more aggressiveness compared to M. javanica. Further, cultivars ‘Buffelspoort 1’ and ‘Hertha’ showed the highest susceptibility, whilst cultivar ‘Mnandi’ showed the least susceptibility. Infection of potato cultivars by the nematodes had severe effects on growth parameters of all the cultivars. Results suggested that all five commercial potato cultivars were susceptible to M. enterolobii and M. javanica. Thus, there is an urgent need for RKN management intervention in the aforementioned cultivars.

Characterization of Starch Granaule of Local Water Yam (Dioscorea alata L.) from Lermatang, Tanimbar Island District, Maluku

Most tuberous crops, for instance, the yam, whose scientific name is Dioscorea alata, have food reserves in the form of starch in tubers. Characterization of starch grains of a plant species is pertinent to uncover information on plant taxonomic traits and identify their potential use as food and industrial raw materials. The study aimed to determine the characteristics of starch grains of water yam from Lermatang village, Tanimbar Islands Regency. This study isolated and submitted six accessions of water yam in Lermatang Village. The morphological inspection of the plants used the Descriptor for Yam from IPGRI, and sample preparation for observing starch grains employed the fresh section method. The six accessions of D. alata found in Lermatang village, Tanimbar Islands, were Uwi Merah, Uwi Gula, Uwi Pingingsian, Uwi Babulu, Uwi Akiakab, and Uwi Petatas. These yam varieties show differences in their tubers' shape and colors. The study found that starch granules of D. alata in each accession varied in terms of granule shape and hilus type. The starch granules revealed dominant triangular, oval, and elliptical shapes and eccentric and concentric hilus types. The starch grain diameter in the six accessions of Uwi was categorically large (44.88 – 57.5 µm), with Uwi Petatas being the largest. Previous reports have shown that accessions having large starch granule types could be further developed into an array of foods, thus conveying the promising use of the Uwi Petatas for such a purpose.

CRISPR/Cas9: an advanced platform for root and tuber crops improvement.

Root and tuber crops (RTCs), which include cassava, potato, sweet potato, and yams, principally function as staple crops for a considerable fraction of the world population, in addition to their diverse applications in nutrition, industry, and bioenergy sectors. Even then, RTCs are an underutilized group considering their potential as industrial raw material. Complexities in conventional RTC improvement programs curb the extensive exploitation of the potentials of this group of crop species for food, energy production, value addition, and sustainable development. Now, with the advent of whole-genome sequencing, sufficient sequence data are available for cassava, sweet potato, and potato. These genomic resources provide enormous scope for the improvement of tuber crops, to make them better suited for agronomic and industrial applications. There has been remarkable progress in RTC improvement through the deployment of new strategies like gene editing over the last decade. This review brings out the major areas where CRISPR/Cas technology has improved tuber crops. Strategies for genetic transformation of RTCs with CRISPR/Cas9 constructs and regeneration of edited lines and the bottlenecks encountered in their establishment are also discussed. Certain attributes of tuber crops requiring focus in future research along with putative editing targets are also indicated. Altogether, this review provides a comprehensive account of developments achieved, future lines of research, bottlenecks, and major experimental concerns regarding the establishment of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing in RTCs.

Root and Tuber Crop Market System in Nigeria Macroeconomic Determinants

Root and tuber crops are food security crop and thus have wide market preference and value in many economies. However, they are constrained by a convergence of external factors that impact on their production, marketing and export potential. The study opened conversations on the market system of root and tuber crops and examined macroeconomic variables that influence Nigeria market commercialization drive and competitiveness in both regional and international trade, using cross sectional data from 1960 to 2016 sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) database and World Bank Development indicators. Analytically, the study employed econometric tools such as unit root tests, trend analysis (i.e. quadratic equation), Generalized Method of Moments, Malmquist productivity index, Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. Findings revealed that macroeconomic variables of exports, imports, and inflation, exchange rate, tariff, price and world exports had long-run and short-run impacts on the exports of root and tuber crops. The study recommends market-oriented strategy by caution against protectionist led interventions such as outright ban on importation, as they impact negatively on market behaviour; rather advocated for effective policing of border to check smuggling, also improvement in policies that improve production to check price instability, which characterize root and tuber crop marketing in Nigeria. There is need for effective regulation and policies that protect risk and guarantee returns in the supply chain of root and tuber crops so that supply-chain actors can benefit substantially from international trade.

Nutritional and anti-nutritional composition of anchote (Coccinia abyssinica ((Lam.) Cogn.) accessions in Ethiopia

Anchote is an indigenous tuber crop with a good source of protein and calcium. Despite the presence of different accessions of the crop, little is known about the nutritional and anti-nutritional content. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional and anti-nutritional content of anchote accessions grown in the East Arsi Zone of Ethiopia. Tubers from 20 accessions of anchote were collected from the research farm of Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center in Ethiopia. The dried tubers of each accession were grounded separately into fine powder following standard procedure and used for nutritional and anti-nutritional content determination. Result showed that, the nutritional compositions varied from: water (65.38%–77.13 %), ash (1.82%–2.85 %), crude fat (0.55%–1.45 %), crude fiber (2.22%–4.02 %), crude protein (6.29%–13.00 %), carbohydrate (6.78%–19.68 %), total starch (39.22%–72.74 %), and energy (74.73%–123.66 %). Phytate concentration ranged from 208.06 mg/100 g to 273.87 mg/100 g, while tannin content was recorded at the lowest (1.19 mg/100g) and highest (44.4 mg/100g). Mineral contents were in a range from calcium (66.81–177.13 mg/100g), magnesium (19.64–35.82 mg/100g), potassium (250.47–523.72 mg/100g), sodium (0.51–4.19 mg/100g), phosphorus (38.91–93.45 mg/100g), iron (0.16–0.65 mg/100g), manganese (0.08–0.27 mg/100g), copper (0.17–0.29 mg/100g), and zinc (0.23–0.46 mg/100g). This study showed that anchote tubers contain a significant amount of essential nutrients. Accessions greatly vary in their nutritional and anti-nutrition compositions. Therefore, anchote accessions with higher nutritional values could be used in breeding and food product development targeting nutritional enhancement.

Physical, chemical, and rheological properties of flour from accessions of Frafra potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius)

Frafra Potato (FP) is a climate-smart crop facing extinction in the tropical regions of Africa due to inadequate information about its properties. This study determined the physicochemical, functional, and rheological characteristics of flours from ten FP accessions to gauge their suitability for culinary purposes. The flour yield from FP tubers ranged from 59.3 % (E134) to 69.3 % (E111). While FP flours (FPF) exhibited consistent colour across accessions, variations in paste clarity were noted, ranging from 5.2 % (E145 and Maa-Lana) to 8.6 % (WAAPP). The least gelation concentration varied from 8 % (WAAPP) to 12 % (E 82, 111, 132, 134, 145). Released accessions showed higher protein and ash content than unreleased ones. Mineral composition differed significantly among accessions, including iron, calcium, zinc, and phosphorus, each with varying bioavailability percentages. Vitamin A content also varied across accessions. Proteins common in tuber crops, such as lipoxygenase, patatin, sporamin, tarin, and protease inhibitors (Bowman-Birk PIs), were identified in FPF. Amino acid analysis revealed nineteen amino acids, including seven essentials. FPF characteristics included a bulk density of 0.9 g/ml, oil and water binding capacities of 3 g/g and 1.3 g/g respectively, a pH of 6.4, and titratable acidity of 0.5. All FP flours displayed standard non-Newtonian behaviour, exhibiting pseudoplastic properties. They also showed a type II sigmoidal sorption curve, indicating increased equilibrium moisture content with higher water activity. Moisture sorption studies predicted a safe storage maximum allowable moisture content. These findings have practical implications for flour packaging and storage. The study underscores the culinary potential of Frafra potato and its role in addressing food and nutrition security in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Effect of Earthing-Up Frequency on Growth and Yield of Anchote (Coccinia abyssinica) Varieties at Gimbi District, Western Ethiopia

Anchote (Coccinia abyssinica (Lam.) Cogn) is a tuberous root crop native to Ethiopia. It is a good source of protein, carbohydrates, calcium, and iron. However, little attention has been given to the improvement of genetic and agronomic practices such as selection of variety, staking, weeding, fertilizer application, and earthing-up frequency. Thus, the attainable yield is below the potential. The experiment was arranged in a 3 × 5 factorial arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications with the objective of determining the effect of earthing-up frequency on the growth and yield of anchote varieties. The interaction effect of earthing-up frequencies and varieties significantly affected anchote leaf number plant−1, shoot dry weight plant−1, unmarketable tuber weight ha−1, vine diameter, shoot fresh weight plant−1, tuber fresh weight plant−1, marketable tuber weight ha−1, and total tuber yield ha−1. Total tuber yield ha−1 was perfectly correlated with tuber fresh weight plant−1 (r = 1), and all parameters were significantly correlated with tuber dry matter plant−1, and tuber dry matter plant−1 was positively and significantly correlated with total tuber yield ha−1 (r = 0.46). Consequently, the highest total tuber yield was observed from earthing-up four times (26.94 t ha−1) and three times (26.88 t ha−1) with Desta 01, while the lowest was observed from the control with Acc405 (15.11). The highest economical tuber yield was obtained from three times earthing-up frequency (26.878 t ha−1, 25.50 t ha−1, and 23.92 t ha−1 for Desta 01, Acc405, and Acc173), and the lowest was observed from the control (22.83 t ha−1, 15.11 t ha−1, and 21.11 t ha−1 for Desta 01, Acc405, and Acc173), respectively. Therefore, for the study area, it is better to apply three times earthing-up frequencies (35 days, 49 days, and 63 days from planting date for once, twice, and three times earthing-up, respectively) with Desta 01 variety followed by Acc405. Since the experiment was conducted using irrigation, it is suggested to be repeated under rainfed conditions to draw a definite conclusion.

Exploration and Collection of Root and Tuber Crop Germplasm in Southern Districts of Assam, India

An exploration was conducted in Southern districts of Assam comprising of Karbiyanglong, Dima Hansao, Hailakandi and Karimgunj regions. With diverse agro climate coupled with varied soil and rainfall pattern, these regions are best suited for cultivating tuber crops and play significant role in food security of tribals inhabited. In hilly areas, tuber crops were grown mainly in jhums and in homestead farming, while in plains they are grown in small pockets under mixed cropping. Of the four districts explored, diversity in yam and taro were maximum in Karbianglong and Dima Hasao offering good scope for taxonomic studies. Farmers Interviewed during exploration reported a declining trend in the production and the number of local varieties maintained in individual farms since the past decade. The factors include displacement by other crops, little research attention, drought, short shelf life, shortage and non availability of planting material, limited knowledge among youth and susceptablity to new pests and diseases. In the present mission, a total of eighty nine (89) tuber crop species comprising of thirty five (35) yam, twenty eight (28) taro, eight (8) sweet potato, six (6) xanthosoma, five (5) tapioca, four (4) arrow root, two (2) elephant yam and one species of Stemona were collected. The study revealed that there is ample scope for multi-crop explorations combining crop wild relatives and landraces diversity.

Safety of Tiger Nuts (Cyperus Esculentus L.) and Derived Products Sold in Sub-Saharan Africa

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) is a tuber crop that is consumed as snack in sub Saharan African. It is known for its sweetness and numerous benefits. Despite the nutritional quality and health benefit of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) tuber crop, increased consumption integrated with the associated risk of disease to consumers is a matter of great concern because of the health practice of the harvester, consumers and vendors. Thus, if tiger nut is exposed to microbial contamination, it can impose public health treat. Contamination of tiger nut tubers could either be physical, chemical, microbial or a combination of any of them, through post-harvest processes, handling, packaging, storage and retailing. Consumption of contaminated tiger nut tubers and utilisation of the tubers to produce edible products will invariably result in contaminated tiger nut-derived products if no further treatment to reduce or completely eliminate the contaminants is applied. In order to boost the prospect of tiger nut tubers and assure safe tiger nut derived products in sub Saharan African countries, it is important to prevent tiger nut tubers and tiger nut-derived products from any form of contamination. Therefore, it is paramount to review recent research findings on contamination of tiger nut tubers and tiger nut-derived products in order to effectively implement prevention strategies. This will help to promote food safety and food security in sub Saharan African countries.

Bioactive Phytochemical Contents on Fruit Peel of Several Citrus Species

Citrus fruits contain important sources of bioactive compounds, including antioxidants such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds that are beneficial for human health. These bioactive compounds also exist in non-edible fruit parts, like the peel. The research was conducted to evaluate these bioactive phytochemicals on the peels of different citrus species. The experiment was carried out from March to August 2018 at the citrus germplasm collection of the Indonesian Instrument Standard Assessment Institute for Citrus and Subtropical Fruits and The Central Laboratory of The Indonesian Instrument Standard Assessment Institute for Legumes and Tubers Crops. The steps of research methods included the preparation of extract samples, the determination of total flavonoids and phenol content, and the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The results showed that the bioactive content of the citrus peels of several citrus species was diverse among the studied citrus species. Tangerine citrus cv. Kintamani was observed to have a higher phenolic content. For flavonoid content, the peel of lime cv. Borneo had the highest and Mandarin cv. Satsuma showed the least. Higher DPPH radical-scavenging activity values were observed on Mandarin cv. Pachuan, tangerine cv. Kintamani, and pumello cv. Thn. The correlation between phenolic content and DPPH radical-scavenging activity was higher than that between phenolic-flavonoid and flavonoid-DPPH radical-scavenging activity, indicating the effect of active molecule structure on redox potential.