Adaptation of plants derived from cultivated yam of Dioscorea cayenensis–D. rotundata complex species seeds germination in two agroecological zones of Benin

Abstract

Vegetative propagation of plants promotes the accumulation of viruses in plant material; this causes the loss of vigor and consequently the drop of vegetable yield. Keep up productivity level of vegetatively propagated plants; it is therefore important to regenerate genetic material by sexual reproduction to improve the biodiversity. The main objective of this study is to improve yam seeds by sexual way, specifically to assess the response of seedlings from yam seeds in two agroecological areas, area IV (Djougou), in Sudanese climate and area V (Bantè), in transition climate. Seedling were transplanted in this agroecological areas using a completely Randomized design with three replications. Data was analyzed using one way ANOVA at 5% level of significance and a mean comparison test. Seedling survival rate is significantly different, 55.41% in zone IV and 23.60% in zone V, but the rate of tuberization of the two areas is similar, 55.63%; of zone IV and 57.62%; of zone V. The average of the tubers length and their weight are respectively 13.21 cm and 24.87 ± 19.22 g in zone IV and 8.95 cm and 10.30 ± 9.91 g in zone V. This results show that microtubers produced from the seeds show a high degree of heterogeneity, and, varieties creation and improvement is possible from the seeds. This technique would promote the selection of varieties adapted to current climatic conditions.