The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)–CGIAR, in collaboration with the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), has released three new yam varieties resistant to the yam mosaic virus and anthracnose which are among the deadly yam diseases in Africa.
The new varieties—UMUDa35-Delight, UMUDr33-Blessing, and UMUDr34-Sunshine also have remarkable attributes, such as high yield, high dry matter, and flour production, as well as good boiling and pounding capabilities.
UMUDa35-Delight is D. alata (water yam), while UMUDr33-Blessing and UMUDr34-Sunshine are both D. rotundata (white yam).
The water yam variety, UMUDa35-Delight, has a maturation period of between 240 and 270 days and a potential yield (t/ha) of 45.7.
UMUDr35-Delight has hairy tubers with dark brown skin and spiny skin cylindrical shape.
The following nutrients were identified as being present in the variety: Protein (5.84%), fat (0.31%), crude fiber (1.41%), amylose (38.10%), sugar (5.25%), phytate (1.02%), and Carbohydrate (CHO) (80.90%).
Related News: Murang’a Farmer Reaping Big from Aerial Yams
Related News: Agritech startup giving market to small-scale banana, pumpkin, sweet potato, arrowroot & yam growers
It possesses some morphological characteristics such as a green sagittate leaf, vigorous and cylindrical tuber, dark brown skin tuber, and creamy white tuber flesh.
This nutrient-rich variety has ash (3.3%), protein (7.3%), crude fiber (2.0%),
It thrives in the southern Guinea savanna, derived savanna, and humid rainforest
The UMUDr33-Blessing, a white yam variety, matures between 230 and 260 days, has a potential yield of 33 t/ha, and flourishes in the southern Guinea savanna, derived savanna, and humid rainforest.
Apart from its high yield and high dry matter, it also has low peel loss.
It possesses some morphological characteristics such as a green cordate leaf, cylindrical tuber, dark green petiole, smooth light brown skin tuber, and creamy white tuber flesh.
The following nutrients were identified as being present in the variety: Protein (4.77%), fat (0.33%), crude fiber (1.62%), amylose (34.41%), sugar (5.13%), phytate (1.04%), and CHO (81.8%).
The other white yam variety, UMUDr34-Sunshine produces rough, brown skin tubers with small corm cylindrical shape.
The nutrient-rich variety has ash (3.3%), protein (7.3%), crude fiber (2.0%), amylose (34.4%), sugar (5.6%), and phytate (0.8%). The results showed yam to be a reasonably good source of minerals.
Related News: Kenya approves cultivation of world’s first disease-resistant GM cassava
UMUDr34-Sunshine, has morphological characteristics such as a green cordate leaf, cylindrical tuber, pale green petiole, rough brown skin tuber, and creamy white tuber flesh.
Maturing between 250 and 270 days, it has a potential yield of 31.8 t/ha and thrives in the southern Guinea savanna and derived savanna. Its excellent boiling and pounding qualities are some outstanding traits.
Researchers also recorded that the yam varieties are reasonably good sources of minerals.
Contributed by the AfricaYam Team
Photo: Newly released UMUDr34-Sunshine produces rough, brown skin tubers with small corm cylindrical shape.– Courtesy,IITA Website