Yam Propagation Using ‘Aeroponics’ Technology
Norbert Maroya *
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Morufat Balogun
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria and Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Robert Asiedu
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Beatrice Aighewi
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
P. Lava Kumar
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Joao Augusto
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To study yam propagation and seed yam tuber production in aeroponics system.
Study Design: The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design and treatments were replicated three times.
Place of Study: This experiment was carried out at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Headquarters at Ibadan in Nigeria.
Methodology: The experiment tested fresh vine cuttings of five yam genotypes of two species in an aeroponics system. Three genotypes of Dioscorea rotundata (TDr 89/02475, TDr 89/02665 and TDr 95/18544) and two yam genotypes of D. alata (TDa 98/01176 and TDa 291) were evaluated.
Results: Vines of both D. rotundata and D. alata rooted within 2 weeks in aeroponics system. The rooting of vine cuttings varied significantly among genotypes with a maximum of 98% for TDa 98/01176 and a minimum of 68% for TDr 89/02665. Mini-tubers harvested after 4 months of growth in aeroponics weighed between 0.2 and 2.7g. A second harvest 6 months later gave mini-tubers of up to 110g. The analysis of variance showed significant difference (P<0.05) among genotypes for rooting at 2 weeks after vine planting, number of plant surviving at 90 days after planting and percentage of plants with bulbils. The best genotypes were TDr 95/18544 and TDr 89/02665 for survival at 90 days after vine planting and percentage of plant producing bulbils in the aeroponics system respectively.
Conclusion: This study revealed that yam genotypes performed differently in aeroponics system for vine rooting and production of mini-tubers and bulbils.
Keywords: Yam, Dioscorea spp, vine propagation, aeroponics, mini-tubers, bulbils