Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Abstract

Positive Selection a simple approach to reduce high virus incidence and seed yam degeneration in Ghana.

Marfo EA, Lamptey JNL, Ennin SA, Osei K, Oppong A, Quain MD, Bosompem AN, Danquah EO, Frimpong F and Kwoseh C

This study was conducted to determine how seed yam selected from three sources namely: Positive Selection (PS), farmer practice and diseased can influence viral incidence and yields of three white yam varieties namely; “Pona”, “Laribako” and “Dente” in Ghana. Seed yams previously selected in 2015 from symptomless or mildly infected plants (PS), purchased seeds (farmer practice) and diseased seeds were established in field experiments in 2016 and 2017 at two locations; Ejura and Fumesua in a 3 × 3 factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The performances of the three seed sources were compared for their reaction to yam mosaic virus infection and tuber yield. Plants raised from PS performed significantly (p<0.05) better with least virus infection and disease severity scores irrespective of the variety. This study shows that PS is a good approach to reducing virus load as well as reducing seed yam degeneration while maintaining fairly good yields.

Published Date: 2021-02-04; Received Date: 2021-01-28