Evaluation of Three Ware-yam Cultivars under Rain-fed Conditions in Hot Humid Tropics, Umudike, Nigeria

Background and Objective: A 2 year pot-field experiment was carried out to evaluate the yield performance of three ware-yam cultivars (Alumaco, Nwopoko, Hebamkwase) at National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria (05E29' N, 07E32' E,122 m a.s.l.) in 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons.Materials and Methods: The pot experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications.Results: The results indicated that all the tested variables were significant in both years except number of seed-yam tubers/plot in 2014 cropping season.Alumaco ware-yam cultivar gave the highest fresh tuber yield compared with the other cultivars studied and exhibited the least percentage of nematode incidence in both years.The combined analysis indicated that the mean sequence of tuber yield of the ware-yam cultivars is in the order: Alumaco>Hebamkwase>Nwopoko.Fresh tuber yield (t haG 1 ) indicated highly significant (p<0.01) and positive correlation with all the yield attributes, especially weight of tubers/plot and bulking rate in both Pearsonʼs and Spearmanʼs ranked correlation analysis.Also, the regression analysis showed a poly-linear and positive relationship between fresh tuber yield and number of ware-yam tubers/plot as well as fresh tuber yield of ware-yam and nematode incidence.Conclusion: Alumaco ware-yam cultivar was the highest yielder, hence adjudged to be better endowed genetically to be recommended to farmers within the agro-ecological zone of the study area.