Article ID 4240219

Dioscorea Species: An Important Under-Exploited Medicinal Plant and A

Potential Root Crop for Agroforestry
Girish Shahapurmath1* and Akshay F Madiwalar2
1*2
Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Forestry, UASD, Sirsi–581 401,
Karnataka, India.
*Corresponding Author: [email protected]

Dioscorea (Dioscorea species; Eng-Yam, Kan- Composition

Maraganasu) is an important medicinal plant. It is The Tubers contain most of the essential
propagated by means of seeds, stem cuttings and nutrients including minerals, vitamins and possess
tuber spieces. Yams are underutilized tuber crops mechanical properties. They are rich sources of protein
cultivated in the tropics and in West Africa, West and amino acids. The chemical composition of yam is
Indies, Tropical America and South East Asia. Yam is given below (Coursey, 1967).
grown in the southern and eastern parts of India. The Specie Mois Carb Fat Crude Fiber Ash
crop is seasonal in nature and hence it is not available s ture ohyd % Protei % %
% rate n%
in large quantity throughout the year. Yam is
%
essentially a crop of subsistence agriculture. Yam is the D. 65- 22- 0.30- 1.12- 0.65- 0.67-
common name for some plant species in the genus alata 73 29 0.27 2.78 1.40 2.06
Dioscorea (family Dioscoreaceae) that form edible D. 58- 23 0.12 1.09- 0.35- 0.68-
tubers. These are perennial herbaceous vines rotun 73 1.99 0.79 2.86
cultivated for the consumption of their starchy tubers data
D. 67- 17- 0.04- 1.29- 0.18- 0.50-
in Africa, Asia, Latin America the Caribbean and
escule 81 25 0.29 1.87 1.51 1.24
Oceania. There are many cultivars of yam. Although nta
some varieties of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) are also
Uses
called yam in parts of the United States and Canada,
Yam tuber is consumed after roasting, boiling
sweet potato is not part of the family Dioscoreaceae
or with other vegetables. It is also used for making
but belongs in the unrelated morning glory family
chips, flakes and flour. Some poisonous types like D.
Convolvulaceae.
dumetorum and D. hispida are eaten during food
Origin
scarcity after clarification or as such used as an aid in
The Dioscoreaceae show some promising hunting, fishing arrow poisoning and for insecticidal
characters of both monocot and dicot and were purpose. Many species of yam contain small amounts
considered as earlier angiosperms. It was suggested of sapogenins and alkaloids for various uses and also
by Coursey (1975) that the ancestral Discoreaceae used as corticosteroid drugs.
might have originated in South East Asia. Earlier,
Species
Burkill (1960) had also indicated the origin of early
The yam, part of Dioscorea genus with about
Discoreaceae in South East Asia.
600 species, includes 12 edible varieties. Key tropical
Distribution
yams are Dioscorea alata, D. rotundata, and D. esculenta;
In Asia, the cultivars Dioscorea alata have been the latter two are widely cultivated in India. Wild
developed as a result of selection from wild form species generally have x=10 chromosomes, with some
related to D. hamiltonii and D. persimilis in South East tropical food varieties having 2n=4x=40 chromosomes
Asia. Dioscorea esculenta is indigenous of the same area (Coursey, 1967).
and also developed by selection (Coursey, 1975). The
Three important species of edible yam are given
major center of diversity of cultivars of both species is below:
in Pupua New Guinca.
D. alata: It is also called the greater yam which has
winged spineless stems twining to the right, leaves are

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 Dioscorea Species: An Important Under-Exploited Medicinal Plant and A Potential Root Crop for Agroforestry

large and arranged in opposite manner. The tubers of Propagation

cultivated type are normally round, oval or irregular Yams are primarily propagated vegetatively,
in shape. with tuber pieces or small tubers commonly used for
D. esculenta planting. Seed pieces, comprising head, middle, and
This is of short duration (7-8 month) and is tail sections, are cut from the tuber. Among the tuber
called lesser yam. It is characterized by thin, pubescent sections, heads sprout most readily, followed by tails
and spiny stems which twine to the left. Leaves are and middles. Multiplication through vine cuttings is
small, cordate and alternate in arrangements. Tubers possible but slower for tuber production. Yams can
are small as compared to other yams. also be propagated through seed and bulbils. A
technique of micro propagation has been developed
D. rotundata
for D.esculenta at CTCRI, Trivendrum.
This species is mainly cultivated in West Africa
Seed Dormancy
and is known as white yam. It is characterized by
sturdy, spiny and roughly circular stem, which twines Yam tubers experience a 2-3 month dormancy
to the right. Tubers are normally cylindrical with period at season's end. To prevent early sprouting,
brown skin and white flesh. sprouts are often removed. Breaking yam dormancy
involves a quick dip in an 8% ethylene chlorohydrin
Cultivars
solution. Conversely, soaking in a 1% malic hydrazide
The central Tuber Crops Research Institute.
(MII) solution delays sprouting during storage, with
Trivendrum (ICAR) has a large collection of
pre-harvest MII application proving effective.
germplasm of D. alata and D. esculenta mostly from
Land Preparation and Planting
indigenous sources. After systematic screening and
testing, three superior types of D. alata have been The soil should be deeply ploughed,
identified viz., Da 60, Da 80 and Da 122. Da 60 has large pulverized and levelled. Yams are planted in flat or
conical shaped tubers, Da 80 has medium sized raised beds or on mounds formed over pits. The seed
irregular tubers and Da 122 has medium sized, round tubers are planted on the onset of monsoon. The
to oval tubers. weight of seed tuber for optimum yield is 200-250 g in
D. alata and 100-125 g in D. esculenta. Cut tubers are
Soil
suberized or smeared with wood ash before planting.
Tuber growth and development largely
Spacing
depend on tilth of the soil. Some tubers of Dioscoreas
go deep into the soil and some spread on the upper Plant population per unit area depends upon
strata. Well drained, loose friable soil containing good the growth habit of the species and in general,
amount of organic matter is preferred for yam cultivars having broader leaves and vigorous growth
cultivation. In stiff clay soil, deformed tubers are require wider spacing. A spacing of 75x75 cm for D.
formed with poor storage quality. Yam can be grown esculenta and 90x90 cm for D. alata may be followed for
in wide range of soil pH between 5-7. the optimum yield of tubers (Anon, 1985). Onwueme
(1978) reported that yams are planted at a spacing of 1
Climate
m between rows and tubers.
Yams thrive in tropical and subtropical
Mulching
regions, with major cultivation in tropical areas. The
optimal temperature range is 25-30°C, as yams are Mulching after the planting of tuber, is very
sensitive to frost and growth hampers below 20°C. useful for increasing the yield as it providers
Adequate rainfall, preferably for 7-10 months, is protection from excessive temperature, conserves soil
crucial for optimal tuber yield. Longer day lengths moisture, ensures quick and uniform sprouting of the
exceeding 12 hours encourage vine growth, while tubers and suppression of weeds.
shorter photoperiods promote tuber development
during the early stages.

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 Dioscorea Species: An Important Under-Exploited Medicinal Plant and A Potential Root Crop for Agroforestry

Trailing of Vines harvest, and seed tubers should be dipped in 0.1%

Vine trailing is vital for optimal sunlight monocrotophos before planting.
exposure, enhancing tuber yield in crops. Research Harvesting
indicates that trailed plants outperform non-staked When the leaves turn yellow and the vines
ones. Swift support for emerging shoots prevents completely dry up, the crop is ready for lifting, which
damage. Yams are also staked on living or dead trees, will be in about 8-9 months after planting. D. esculenta
with branched stakes proving superior. matures early as compared to other species. There is a
Manuring and Fertilization practice of double harvesting, i.e, removing mother
Yams thrive with 10 tonnes/ha of well- tubers after two months of growth and allowing
decomposed FYM. Experiments confirm their subsequent production of side tubers. However,
responsiveness to inorganic fertilizers and organic double harvesting is not economical as compared to
manures. For D. esculenta and D.alata, NPK at 80:60:80 single harvesting.
kg/ha is suggested, while optimal fertigation of NPK Yield
at 120:80:80 kg/ha yields high-quality tubers.
The tuber yield depends on species and
Interculture and Weed Control cultural practices. D. alata has been found to give a
Weed control is crucial for optimal plant yield of 20-40 tonnes of tubers per hectare, whereas D.
growth. Adequate fertilizer and moist soil facilitate esculenta yields 10-30 tonnes per hectare under field
rapid growth of monocot and dicot weeds. Typically, conditions.
2-3 intercultural operations, with the first deep Storage
operation one week after 50% tuber sprouting and
Yams, known for their post-harvest resilience,
subsequent ones at 15-day to 1-month intervals, are
develop protective cork layers upon harvest to reduce
sufficient.
water loss. Ideal curing involves exposing tubers to 29-
Diseases 30°C at 90-95% humidity for four days. Storage,
D. esculenta faces blight caused by Cercospora especially in tropical regions, requires 30°C to prevent
Sp, while D. alata contends with dieback due to chilling injury below 12°C. Global practices include
Colletotrichum Sp. Symptoms, starting as leaf spots, field storage (with quality loss in rain), pits, pyramid
coalesce and lead to defoliation and plant death. Yam heaps, yam barns, and specialized huts. In India, sand
tubers encounter storage rots like wet, soft, or brown layers are common.
rot, attributed to Batrudipladia sp, Penicillium sp, Medicinal Uses
Aspergillus spp, Fusarium spp. Copper fungicide and
Cultivated yam types, akin to potatoes in taste
lime washing offer partial control. Mosaic viral
and quality, find commercial use in starch extraction
diseases afflict D.alata, D. esculenta, and D. rotundata,
(e.g., D.alata) and alcohol production. Certain
displaying various symptoms, from leaf puckering
Dioscorea species are vitamin B-rich (B1, B2, B3) but
and chlorosis to necrosis and stunting
deficient in protein, calcium, and iron. Varieties
Pests contain dioscorine and dioscin in varying amounts,
Yams face numerous pests, including scale with dioscorine causing respiratory paralysis and
insects, white grubs, termites, chrysomelids, and hairy death in D. hispida if consumed excessively.
caterpillars. Scale insects, particularly Aspidella hartii, Diosgenin extraction
are the most serious pests. They infest the vine base
Rhizomes are sliced, dried, and ground, then
and tubers, causing severe withering and shriveling,
hydrolyzed with 6% sulfuric acid for 6 hours. After
diminishing market quality. The pests spread through
cooling, filtering, and washing, the residue is dried,
infested seed tubers during storage. Infested tubers
extracted with n-hexane for 8 hours, and filtered. The
should be promptly removed and destroyed after
diosgenin, with 95% purity, is obtained after solvent
removal, washing, and air-drying.

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 Dioscorea Species: An Important Under-Exploited Medicinal Plant and A Potential Root Crop for Agroforestry

IIHR has released two cultivars and they are: Dioscorea Species Based Agroforestry Systems
i. FB (C) - 1: It is a composite strain of D. Some of the important agroforestry systems
floribunda. are as follows:
ii. Arka Upkar : It is a high yielding and has a. Silvi-medico system
vigorous growth habit. In this system tree are planted at a
Diosgenin content of Dioscorea spp spacing of 10 x 2 m and in-between Dioscorea species
Sl.No Species Diosgenin Remarks can be grown. After 6-8 years alternative trees are
(%) removed for further growth.
1. D.deltoidea 2-5 Growing wild in
sub Himalayan
region. Cycle = 5
years
2. D. Prazeri 1.0 North- Eastern
region
3. D.floribunda 2-5 Central b. Silvi-horti-medico system
American
Here horticultural species are planted at 10 x
species.
Cycle =1-3 10 m and in-between two plants three tree species at
years one side are planted in 3-2-2-3 m spacing. In the
4. D. 2-4 Central remaining space Dioscorea species can be grown.
Composite American
species.
Cycle = 3 years.
Diosgenin content (%)
Cultivar First year Second year

FB (C) -1 2.5 – 3.0 3.0 – 3.5

c. Silvi-medico-pasture system
Arka Upkar 3.0 – 3.5 3.5 – 4.0
In this system trees are planted at wide
Possibilities of Integration of Dioscorea Species in spacings and inter-space is used for growing of
Agroforestry Dioscorea species. In-between trees, forage crops are
The possible ways of integration of Dioscorea maintained in two rows as hedges.
species in agroforestry are as follows.
1. Block plantation: Dioscorea species can be
integrated under block plantations with fruit yielding
tree species viz., Emblica officinalis, Syzygium cumini,
Tamarindus indica.
2. Boundary planting: Dioscorea species can be
planted all along the borders of tree rows d. Alley cropping
In alley cropping, perennial
bushes/hedges/trees are planted at certain distance.
In-between the alleys, Dioscorea species are grown.
Summary and Conclusion
3. Agri-horti system: Dioscorea species can be
Medicinal plant use dates back to
grown under orchards
ancient times, initially serving limited needs.
4. Silvi-pastoral system: Wide-spaced tree Knowledge was scarce and carefully preserved. The
species with Dioscorea species can be intercropped

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 Dioscorea Species: An Important Under-Exploited Medicinal Plant and A Potential Root Crop for Agroforestry

18th and 19th centuries witnessed a surge in synthetic guidance, facilities and support in preparing this
medicines. The 20th century, marked by medical manuscript.
breakthroughs, emphasized natural and mineral- References
based remedies. Presently, the belief in natural cures
Abraham, K and Easwariamma, C.S. (1984) Indian
over synthetics has increased demand for plant- Fmg, 33: 17-19.
derived medicines. Agroforestry emerges as a viable
Adne. ji, M.O. (1970). Phytopathology, 60: 590-2
land use alternative, integrating medicinal plants with
crops, offering food, fodder, fuelwood, timber, and Anonynou, (1985). Edible Yams. Bull No.7, CTCRI,
pharmaceutical resources. This approach ensures Trivendrum.
environmental stability, livelihood security on small Burkill, I.H. (1969) Journal of Linnean Society (Bot.),
plots, and commercial profitability on larger holdings. 56: 319-412
While desirable everywhere, agroforestry finds Chapmann. T. (1965). Trop. Agric., Trainidad, 42: 145-
particular application in arid regions, fragile 51
ecosystems, and challenging soil conditions, Coursey, D.G. (1967). Yams, Longmans, London.
providing additional income through the cultivation
Coursey, D.G. (1975). Origin of Africa Plant
of economic or medicinal trees alongside annual herbs
Domestication, Ed, J.R. Harlan. The Hague.
Acknowledgement
Haynes, P.H. and Coursey, D.G. (1969). Trop. Sci, 11:
The authors are grateful to the Dean (Forestry) 93-96
and staff of College of Forestry, Sirsi, and AICRP on
Onwueme, I.C. (1978). The Tropical Tuber Crops. John
Agroforestry, Dharwad (UASD), Karnataka for
wiley & Sonu, New York.

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