Quantitative and Qualitative Aspects of Elephant Foot Yam

Abstract

There is little information on quantitative and qualitative aspects of elephant foot yam [Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst) Nicholson] specifically concerning nutritional status. Various traits of 12 cultivars of this crop were evaluated. Variability was observed for growth and yield components. Some traits were correlated. Potassium was the most abundant (327.83 mg/100 g) macromineral followed by phosphorus (166.91 mg/100 g), calcium (161.08 mg/100 g) and iron (3.43 mg/100 g). The mean soluble oxalate content (13.53 mg/100 g) was safe from the viewpoint of accumulation of urinary oxalate leading to kidney stones. The cvs. Singur and NDA-9 appear to be the most promising ones from which improved lines could be obtained. This information will provide breeders with the ability to develop desirable types having high yield and better nutritional profile.