Influence of pre-harvest application of growth regulators on the yield and quality of Elephant Foot Yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Dennst.)

The present investigation aimed to study the effect of pre-harvest application of growth regulators on the yield and quality of elephant foot yam, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Dennst. Thirteen pre-harvest treatments with Cycocel, Ethrel and Kinetin were used individually and in combination with Ridomil at different concentrations 15 days and 30 days before harvesting. Among the pre-harvest treatments, combination of Cycocel @ 500 ppm + Ridomil @ 0.5% sprayed 30 days before harvest in elephant foot yam recorded the highest mean corm weight (820.60g) and yield 36.70 t/ha. After harvest, the corms were stored in a well-ventilated dry room in 60-75 % relative humidity.  Among the thirteen treatments, there was a significant loss in corm weight, starch content, dry matter, and oxalate content during storage. The corm weight was significantly higher in T₈ (791.60 g) followed by T₁₁ (773.30 g) and T₂ (695.10 g) after six months of storage. There was no significant loss in starch and dry matter content of corms in all the treatments during storage. The starch content of elephant foot yam ranged from 8.96 to 10.20%, dry matter content ranged from 21.50 to 25.00%. The oxalate content is significantly lower in T₈ (115.5 mg/100g) followed by T₂ (120 mg/100g) and T₉ (123 mg/100g).