Colocasia (Colocasia esculenta L.

Scot) Araceae Varie�es Co 1, Panchamukhi, Satamukhi (Kovvur), Sree

Pallavi, Sree Kiran and Sree Rashmi are the popular cul�vars. Co 1 Soil It comes up well in loamy soils
with a pH range of 5.5-7.0 and a combina�on of warm and moist climate with a mean temperature of
21-270 C. It can be grown up to 1500 m eleva�on with well distributed rainfall of about 1000 mm during
growth period. In areas where rainfall is less, a good amount of supplementary irriga�on is required for
successful produc�on. Season June – July and February – March are the suitable season for cul�va�on.
Plan�ng material and seed rate Cormels weighing about 20-25 g form good plan�ng material. Seed rate
of 800 kg/ha is required. Prepara�on of field Plough the field to a fine �lth and form ridges and furrows
at a spacing of 45 cm. In sandy loam soil, pit method is followed. Plan�ng Plant at a spacing of 45 cm in
furrows.The cormels may be planted to a depth of 2.5 to 7.5 cm. Irriga�on Irriga�on is done once in a
week Applica�on of fer�lizers Apply 25 tonnes of FYM, 20 kg N, 30 kg P and 60 kg K/ha as basal and 20
kg N, 30 kg P and 60 kg K/ha on 45 days a�er plan�ng. A�er cul�va�on Weeding and earthing up should
be done within 45 to 60 days a�er plan�ng. Deep cul�va�on should be avoided. Small inefficient suckers
from the mother plants have to be removed along with the second weeding. It requires profuse
irriga�on and shade. Crop protec�on Aphids and worms are pests atacking the leaves. Control Spray
Quinalphos or Dimethoate 0.05%. Mealy bugs and scale insects damage cormels and corms and hence
select cormels free of these pests for plan�ng. If infested, the seed cormels should be dipped in
Dimethoate 0.05% solu�on for 10 minutes. Leaf blight (Phytophthora colocasiae) Oval or irregular
purplish or brownish necro�c lesions with watersoaked periphery appear on leaves. In severe cases, the
en�re leaf lamina and the pe�oles are affected giving a blighted appearance and collapse of the plant.
Heavy incidence causes up to 50 per cent crop loss. Management Use of field resistant varie�es viz.,
Muktakeshi and Jankhri, early plan�ng to avoid heavy monsoon rains, use of healthy plan�ng materials,
removal of self-grown colocasia plants, spray with fungicides viz., Mancozeb (0.2%) or Ridomil MZ 72 @
2 g/l of water and trea�ng the seed tubers with biocontrol agents viz., Trichoderma viride Harves�ng
Crop will be ready for harvest in 6-8 months a�er plan�ng. One month prior to harvest, all the suckers
may be wrapped around the base of the mother plant and covered with soil by earthing up, for arres�ng
further vegeta�ve growth and sprou�ng of tubers. A�er this, irriga�on has to be withheld to hasten
maturity. Harves�ng is done by carefully uproo�ng the plants and the mother corms and cormels are
separated. Yield About 8 – 10 t/ha can be obtained in 180 days.

AROID CLASSIFICATION:

Taxonomic:

Family: Araceae

Subfamily: Aroideae

• Genus: Alocasia Example: Elephant Ear

• Genus: Anthurium Example: Flamingo Flower

• Genus: Philodendron Example: Heartleaf Philodendron

• Genus: Spathiphyllum Example: Peace Lily

• Genus: Zantedeschia Example: Calla Lily

Economic:

1. Edible Aroids:

• Taro

• Yau�a

2. Ornamental Aroids:

• Flamingo Flower

• Heartleaf Philodendron

• Elephant Ear

3. Medicinal Aroids:

• Sweet Flag

• Pinellia

• Dragon Arum

4. Industrial Aroids:

• Konjac Flour Plant

• Starch-producing Taro

Other parameter:

1. Foliage Aroids:

• Monstera

• Philodendron

• Aglaonema

2. Climbing Aroids:

• Pothos

• Syngonium

• Scindapsus

3. Water Aroids:

• Water Letuce

• Duckweed

• Water Spangles

4. Giant Aroids:
 • Corpse Flower

• Voodoo Lily

• Giant Taro

5. Air Purifying Aroids:

• Peace Lily

• Aglaonema

• Dumb Cane