ABSTRACT:

Amorphophallus, commonly known as elephant foot yam or Suran is a dual-purpose aroid ideal for ornamental as well as cultivation purposes. While the plants of all species have ornamental value, tubers of some species are rich source of nutrition and a delicacy as food. Tubers and plants are also used in preparing indigenous medicines for various ailments. The amorphophallus crop has high production potential and market acceptability. Three major field diseases affect the plants; mosaic caused by virus, leaf blight/leaf rot by Phytophthora colocasiae and collar rot by Sclerotium rolfsii. Major field diseases of amorphophallus can be effectively controlled by using disease-free planting material, mulching with paddy straw/plant leaves/black polythene sheets and two preventive sprays with Mancozeb (0.2%) + Monocrotophos (0.05%) at 60 and 90 days after planting. The tubers are also prone to post-harvest damage as a result of infection by various fungi and bacteria coupled with nematode infestation. Tubers infested with Meloidogyne incognita are prone to post-harvest diseases caused by Sclerotium rolfsii, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Phytophthora co!ocasiae, Fusarium and Rhizopus species. A bacterial pathogen, Erwinia carotovora also causes serious soft rot decay of tubers. Storing the tubers by spreading them closely in single layer and covering with coarse dry sand in a cool and ventilated place, followed by periodic removal of damaged tubers/portions, if any, was found to be the best method of storage that allowed minimum decay and weight loss.