ISHS Acta Horticulturae 380: Symposium on Tropical Root Crops in a Developping Economy
FIELD EVALUATION OF COCOYAM (XANTHOSOMA SAGITTIFOLIUM (L) SCHOTT) FOR TOLERANCE TO THE ROOT ROT DISEASE CAUSED BY PYTHIUM MYRIOTYLUM |
| Authors: | J.G. Wutoh, J.T. Tambong, M.M. Meboka, S. Nzietchueng |
| Abstract:
The root rot disease of macabo (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) caused by the fungus Pythium myriotylum, is an important constraint to cocoyam production. Yield losses of up to 90% sometimes occur. Breeding cocoyam for highly resistant varieties has been started at the Roots and Tubers Research Project (ROTREP), but still requires many years of work. To partially arrest the continuous declining production, tolerant cultivars can be clonally selected and grown as a stog-gap measure. Twelve high performing accessions from the 1988 and 1989 germplasm evaluation were field tested for disease incidence and yields. The results revealed that all cultivars were susceptible to varying degrees. Eight potentially tolerant cultivars have been selected and are being evaluated. Of these, two prominent accessions, R0.1006 and R0.1011, are now in a preliminary on-farm trial, due to their low disease incidence and high yields in the 1988, 1989, and 1990 growing season. | |
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