Propagation of lesser yam (Dioscorea esculenta) using vine cuttings.

Abstract

The traditional practice of propagating yams using setts consumes a significant proportion of harvested tubers. An attempt was made to root Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burk, vine cuttings as alternative planting material. Various rooting substances and sucrose solution were applied to five-month old yam vine cuttings. Sucrose solution prolonged the lifespan of 2-node cuttings up to 9 weeks. The cuttings (n-30) treated with sucrose (80 g !') alone produced 13% rooting, while cuttings treated with sucrose (80 g 1plus Serdix (3 g kg1 beta - IBA) had 17% rooting. Those treated with sucrose (80 g I') plus IBA (200 g I') had 20% rooting However, the growth of plants at the nursery and in the field was not vigorous, and the tubers produced weighed less than 20 g It was demonstrated that D esculenta vine cuttings can take root but could not substitute for tubers as commercial planting materials because of the low rooting percentage and poor growth in the field It was suggested that experimenting with vine cuttings younger than 5 months might improve the vigour and yield of the yam