- Yam is the common name
for some species in the genus Dioscorea (family Dioscoreaceae). These
are perennial herbaceous vines cultivated for the consumption of their
starchy tubers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania. They are used
in a fashion similar to potatoes and sweet potatoes. There are hundreds
of cultivars among the cultivated species.
- Yam is a tuber food
crop which is produced in nearly every part of the tropical regions. It
greatest importance is attained in West Africa where more than 90% of
worldwide production (40 millions tons of fresh tubers) is being
produced. Yam is grown traditionally in shifting agricultural systems
without any external inputs as the first crop coming after the natural
vegetation or after a long period of fallow. However in regard to the
rate of population increase and therefore to the future food demand of
the population, very little new surfaces remain to be brought into
cultivation.
- Yams are a primary
agricultural commodity in West Africa and New Guinea. They were first
cultivated in Africa and Asia about 8000 B.C. Yams are important to this
day for survival in these regions. Yam tubers can be stored up to six
months without refrigeration, which makes them a valuable resource for
the yearly period of food scarcity at the beginning of the wet season.
Yams are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species
including Palpifer sordida.Yams are high in Vitamin C, dietary fiber,
Vitamin B6, potassium and manganese; while they are low in saturated
fat, sodium and cholesterol.
- Yam edible tubers feed
million of peoples in the intertropical area, where they represent 12%
of human feeding. However, as a vegetatively propagated crop, yam is
seriously affected by an accumulation of pathogens. Establishing in
vitro germplasm collection is a process that clean the plants from all
diseases but viruses. It give a good control on the preservation of the
yam genetic resources and facilitate international exchanges of healthy
plant material.
- The tropical yam
(Dioscorea alata) should not be confused with sweet potato, which is
sometimes called ‘yam’ in the United States. Its consumption by various
ethnic groups (African, Caribbean, Latin American and Asian) has helped
extend its trade to the major industrialized countries. After a slight
drop in imports between 1997 and 1998 import levels increased 18 percent
between 1998 and 1999 to 28,910 MTs. Despite the gains in volume, the
corresponding value of fresh yam imports fell from approximately $25
million in 2000 to $22 million in 2001. Volume fell from 29 MTs in 2000
to 26 MTs in 2001.
- Moreover yields in
traditional farming systems are low and instable varying between
species, between production zones and from years to years. Potential
yield is assumed to attain 60-75 tons of fresh tuber per hectare. Yam
consumption increases rapidly and in 2020, the annual demand is foreseen
to increase to 60 millions of tons.
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General Information
Species
Information
- Dioscorea alata
- Dioscorea
bulbifera
- Dioscorea
discolor
-
Dioscorea
elephantipes
- Dioscorea
kamoonensis
- Dioscorea
oppositifolia
- Dioscorea
villosa
- Dioscorea tokoro
- Dioscorea
batatas
Production and
Management
- Preliminary Diagnostic
of Haitian Yellow Yam
- Yam diseases and its
management in Nigeria
- Microbially Produced
Phytotoxins and Plant Disease Management
- Stability of Yam Starch
Gels During Processing
- Effect of Four Procedures of
Extraction on Yam Starch
Functions
- The Contribution of an
Ionic Peroxidase Isozyme to Enzyme-Mediated Browning in Dioscorea
esculent
- The Mucilage of Yam
Tuber Exhibited Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitory
Activities
- Physico-chemical
characterisation of yam
- Isolation and
Characterization of Starches from eight Dioscorea alata
- In Vitro Storage and
Safe International Exchange of Yam Germplasm
Cultivars and
Consultants
- Mountain Gardens
- Biotech Company
-
Agro Products Company
-
Consultants
-
Consultants Resume
-
Expertise
Patent
- Polysaccharide Extract
of Dioscorea Sp and an Orally Active Pharmaceutical Composition
Comprising the Same
- Process for the
Preparation of Angiotensis Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Its
Use
- Extract of Dioscorea Sp
and the Medicinal Uses Thereof
- Method of Preparing
Dioscorea Tincture and Uses Thereof
- Pharmaceutical
Composition and Method for Making the Same
- Processes for Products
from True Yam
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Applications
- Therapeutic
Action, Pharmacology and application of Wild Yam
- Wild Yam Uses
- Medicinal
Succulents
- Dioscorea Used in
Chinese Medicine
Products and
Material Safety Data Sheet
- Wild Yam Root
USA
- SeboCure
- KB-C
- Chinese Yam
- Nervous Fatigue
Formula
- Air Potato Bulb
Powder
- Products List
Market
- Yam and Cowpea
Diversity Management by Farmers in the Guinea
- Herbal Medicine
- Medicinal Plants &
Extracts
- Market Survey on Tissue
Cultured Plants
- Yams
- Tropical Root and Tuber
Crops
Report
- Adaptation of Yam
Cultivation to Changing Environment and Economic Constraints in
Benin
- Medium-term and
long-term in vitro conservation and safe international exchange of
yam
- Descriptors of
Yam
- Modeling the growth of
yam
- Agriculture
Tribune
- Observed Improvements
in Respiratory Air Flow in Asthmatics
- Foreign Exploration fro
Biological Control Agents of Three Invasive Species From Asia
- A Brief Report on a
Large Mountain-top Community of Dioscorea Praehensilis in the Tropical
Rainforest of Southeastern Cameroon
Suppliers and
Buyers
- Dioscorea villosa Extract Suppliers
- Dioscorea Selling
Leads
- Radix Dioscorea
Manufacturers
- River Zoo Farm
- Dioscorea
Sellers
- S. S Herbals
- Victory Corporate &
Technical Services Pvt. Ltd
- Wild yam Buyers
List
Project and
Guides
- Invasive Non-Native
Plant Control Project
- Production of Saponin
and Wolbachia, a Hormonal Medicine
- Identification of
resistance to major nematode pests of yams
- Medicinal Herb
Production Guide
- Safe Movement of Yam
Germplasm
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