The Current Status of Yam (Dioscorea Spp) Research in Ethiopia: A Review Paper

Root and tuber crops give the highest rate of dry matter production per unit area of land compared to other crops. They are major calorie contributors. Yams (Dioscorea spp) are among tuber crops which possess medicinal properties to cure many ailments and used in the preparation of stimulants, tonics, carminatives and expectorants that can be used as industrial raw materials. Indeed, they are rich in dietary fiber, carotenoids and anthocyain content. They play a major role in food and nutrition security of producers and consumers. Yam and other tuber crops producing areas have not encounter frequent drought and producing farmers have economical advantage due to their high market values. Yam (Dioscorea spp) has given a minimum attention by agricultural research systems. It is among a group of crops labeled as “orphaned crops”, which have not received research attention for a long period of time. Whereas, there are some research and genetic improvement works have been made in the country. This paper reviewed these research works which were done using molecular tools like AFLP, SSR and ISSR markers including phenotypic traits studies. Hence, these traits are the basis of molecular assisted breeding. The reviewed research results and recommendations implied that a presence of high genetic and species diversity in Ethiopian yam. However, the genetic erosion due to biotic and a biotic factors and low research emphasis towards yam (Dioscorea spp) were the major challenges to boost its’ productivity and use it as industrial crops through value addition and, extraction of important bio-chemicals for medicinal values.