Academe Research Journals

International Journal of Agricultural Science Research

Full Length Research Paper

Towards sustainable production of new varieties of Dioscorea rotundata resistant to yam mosaic in rural areas of Côte d’Ivoire

Sorho Fatogoma², Ettien Djétchi Jean-Baptiste^1,3*, Koné Brahima¹ and Girardin O.³

¹Department of Soil Sciences, University Felix Houphouet-Boigny Abidjan, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire.

²UFR Biosciences, Laboratory of Plant Physiology, University Felix Houphouet-Boigny Abidjan, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire.

³Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, 01 BP 1303 Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ettien01@gmail.com.

Accepted 24 November, 2014

Abstract

Yam mosaic virus (YMV) is a major factor limiting for stable production of yam. Specie Dioscorea rotundata is particularly susceptible to the virus yam mosaic virus (YMV). This study was conducted in Bringakro (6° 401'N, 5° 091'W, 150 m alt.), the transition forest-savanna zone in Côte d’Ivoire. Fifty-nine yams elite of D. rotundata coming from the germplasm collection of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and four local varieties were used in 2000 and 2001. Their resistance to yam mosaic virus was evaluated in field trials in Côte d’Ivoire. The experimental design used was the augmented design with four replications each year in 2000 and 2001. Statistical analysis was done with SAS v10 for anova. Visual score of YMV on the leaves, canopy surface measure and yield were the parameters collected. Symptoms varied from mosaic on leaves to shoestring. It depended on the environment, that is, climate and plant host. All year long, tuber yield according to cultivar was very significant (P<0.02). The new assessions of yam were more productive than local ones. In conclusion, some of the new yams can be recommended to farmers in Côte d’Ivoire to improve yam cropping system and their incomes.

Key words: Yield, white yam, yam mosaic virus, canopy surface, Côte d’Ivoire.