Author(s)

Evelyn Bi Manju¹, Victorine Yaya Fornkwav², Irene Bonsiysi Bam³, Raissa Akwa Tima⁴

¹Department of Crop Production Technology, College of Technology, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon.
²International Potato Centre (CIP), Yaounde, Cameroon.
³Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Bambui, Cameroon.
⁴Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Management Science, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon.

Taro is cultivated in most Regions of Cameroon and it is affected by taro leaf blight disease since 2010 which has decreased its production. Lack of disease-free planting materials has been a main problem to farmers. This study was carried out at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Yaounde and Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) Bambui to assess different substrates for acclimatization of tissue culture taro plantlets in apropagator. No information is available on acclimatization of Cameroonian taro plantlets in different substrates. Taro plantlets from tissue culture were acclimatised in a propagator for six weeks under different substrates, the first substrate consisted of sterile three parts of soil and one part of river sand mixed together (3:1), the second substrate consisted of sterile two parts of soil and two parts of river sand mixed together (2:2), the third substrate consisted of sterile two parts of soil, one part of rice husk and one part of river sand mixed together (2:1:1) and the fourth substrate consisted of sterile one part of soil and three parts of river sand mixed together (1:3). After acclimatisation of the different taroplantlets (Dark green petiole with small leaves (L1), Red petiole with small leaves (L2), Light green petiole with large leaves (L3) and Light green petiole with small leaves (L4) in these four substrates, it was observed that the best growth rate of plant was recorded on substrate sand + soil (1:3). The other substrates showed moderate growth of plants. Substrate sand + soil (1:3) can be recommended for acclimatization of Cameroonian taro plantlets.

Taro Tissue Culture Plantlets, Substrates, Acclimatization, Propagator

Manju, E. , Fornkwav, V. , Bam, I. and Tima, R. (2023) Evaluation of Different Substrates Compositions for Acclimatization of Tissue Culture Taro Plantlets in a Propagator. Agricultural Sciences, 14, 925-938. doi: 10.4236/as.2023.147062.