Yam breeding at IITA: achievements, challenges, and prospects

African food system
Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a multispecies,
clonally propagated crop
cultivated for its starchy tubers.
About 10 species are widely
cultivated around the world, but
only D. rotundata, D. alata, and
D. cayenensis are the most widely
cultivated species in West Africa,
accounting for 93% of the global
yam production. Since inception,
IITA R4D efforts have focused on
developing new varieties of yam
with desired agronomic and quality
traits and to improve yam-based
cropping systems.