Propagation and planting techniques for commercial cultivation of tropical tubers

Abstract

Tuber vegetables are potential functional food, primarily acting as staple carbohydrate source, second to cereals, basically in tropical regions in the world and are vital elements in human diet. They contribute a considerable share of world’s food supply and are important source of both fodder and industrial product particularly in the developing countries. From farmers point of view the cultivation process of these kinds of vegetables is not so much intensive and difficult. The vital factor to consider is propagation since they are commercially vegetatively propagated. Healthy planting material, devoid of biotic stresses (most importantly virus), selection of proper matured planting
material from a healthy mother plant, storage of propagules, seed treatment before planting and planting method are the critical factors that directly affect the yield and quality of harvest. In this article we shall try to discuss the typical techniques of propagation and planting of commercial tubers like cassava, sweet potato, elephant foot yam, colocasia and greater yam in a practical way specifically for the tuber growers in India.