Summary
The taxonomy of edible Colocasia (Cocoyam) is confusing. The existence of one species, C. esculenta var. antiquorum or C. esculenta and C. antiquorum as two separate species is controversial. Nine high yielding Nigerian cultivars of cocoyam made up of members of the two taxa were grown under the same environmental conditions. As a preliminary investigation, 17 characters were monitored and recorded to help in the classification of the cultivars. Results showed that cocoyams can be grouped into two separate species. The qualities possessed by TCe 23, Nwine and Ukpon cultivars which include pink tuber skin, long or club shaped cormels and non-irritation in the throat when boiled and eaten, clearly distinguished them from those of Tce 15, 19, 27, 36, Ede-ofe and Kochuom.
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Onyilagha, J.C., Omenyi, A.S., Illoh, H.C. et al. Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, Colocasia antiquorum Schott, how many species? 1. A preliminary investigation. Euphytica 36, 687–692 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00041519
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00041519