Yield and natural reaction to anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosponoides) of four yam cultivars planted without staking

Abstract

This study evaluated marketable yield and the natural reaction to anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosponoides Penz) of four yam (Dioscorea alata) cultivars planted without staking: Florido, Diamantes, Forastero, and Kabusah. No significant yield differences were found among cultivars Diamantes, Forastero and Kabusah. Average marketable yields were 26,169; 25,634; and 24,750 kg/ha, respectively. These yields were significantly higher than that obtained for Florido, 2,899 kg/ha. Florido showed the highest disease severity caused by anthracnose with 51%, 76% and 96% at four, five and six months after planting, respectively. Percentage of disease severity in Florido was significantly higher than that observed in cultivars Diamantes, Forastero, and Kabusah.