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Recent Advances in

Advances in ROOT AND TUBER CROPS

ROOT AND TUBER CROPS

Recent
Root and tuber crops (RTCs) were first domesticated several thousand years ago
and eventually became a staple food for the poorest farmers and households of
the tropical and subtropical countries. Currently, RTCs serve as staple food (either
primary form or modified form) for more than 2.2 billion population across the
globe. RTCs are the third most important food crops after cereals and legumes.
Potato along with cassava, sweet potato and yams rank among the top 15 crop
plants of the world concerning cropping area. Potato is found in almost every
household of the globe. Cassava is the most important root and tuber crop in the
tropics where it is a primary staple food in many of the poorest countries, and the
sweet potato is also a food staple in Asia, Africa and America. Yams are also
important staple food crops in tropical and subtropical regions. Although Taro
and Cocoyam are minor crops, they do provide staple food for poor people in
Africa, Asia and America. Apart from the food source, RTCs serve as animal feed
and fuel source. Conventional breeding methods have succeeded in improving
productivity but modern breeding techniques have succeeded in reducing the

ROOT AND
breeding cycle to some extent. The proposed book also deals with the advance
plant production systems, plant protection technologies and post-harvest
management aspects of important root and tuber crops: potato (Solanum
Recent
tuberosum L.), cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas
Advances in

TUBER CROPS
(L.) Lam.), yams (Dioscorea spp.), elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius
(Dennst.) Nicolson), taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott.) and tannia/cocoyam

More | Giri | Kumar J.

(Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott.) covered in 22 chapters. The book will be of

Chandra C. | Tadigiri
value both to students and scientific personnel, as well as to anyone interested in
this fascinating group of root and tuber crops. Chapters have been written by
experts on the crops with wide knowledge.
Sanket J. More | Namrata Ankush Giri
Suresh Kumar J. | Visalakshi Chandra C.
Sirisha Tadigiri
ISBN: 978-93-90757-18-3

9 789390 757183
 Recent Advances in

ROOT AND
TUBER CROPS
 Recent Advances in

ROOT AND
TUBER CROPS

Sanket J. More
Namrata Ankush Giri
Suresh Kumar J.
Visalakshi Chandra C.
Sirisha Tadigiri
Brillion Publishing
22 B/5 Ground Floor, Desh Bandhu Gupta Road,
Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005
Ph.: + 91 (11) 4155-8799
Email: info@brillionpublishing.com
www.brillionpublishing.com
© Publisher, 2021
ISBN: 9789387445598

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Printed in India
 Phone: (R) 0487-2373017 (M) 9446513017
E-mail: kvptr@yahoo.com; peter.kv@gmail.com

KERALA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

Main Campus, Kerala Agril. University P.O. Thrissur - 680 656, Kerala

Professor K.V. Peter

Ph.D., FNAAS, FNASc FNABS.FISVeg, FISGen., FHSI, H.FCHAI
FISNS
Chaiman, Kerala Chapter, The National Academy of Sciences, India
Former Vice-Chancellor Kerala Agricultural University and Director
ICAR-IISR Calicut

FOREWORD

“There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of
bread” - Mahatma Gandhi”. We need a new vision for agriculture-to spread happiness among
farm and urban families. Bio-happiness through the conversion of our bioresources into wealth
meaningful to our rural families should be the goal of our national policy for farmers”-
M.S. Swaminathan. Root and Tuber Crops are nature’s gifts for energy and several values added
industrial products

Root and tuber crops (RTCs) are the third important food crops after cereals
and legumes and are either a staple or subsidiary food for about one-fifth of the
world population. They contribute about 6% of the world's dietary calories and
are important sources of animal feed and raw materials for industrial products. In
terms of the annual volume of production, cassava, potato, and sweet potato rank
among the top 10 food crops cultivated in developing countries. RTCs serve as a
source of food and energy for more than 2.2 billion people across the globe. Apart
from this, RTCs are utilized as a staple food, animal feed, and as a starch reservoir
for numerous industrial uses. RTCs especially tropical tuber crops (TTCs) have
been components of resource and input limited production systems grown in less
fertile and abiotically stressed soils. RTCs are biologically efficient crops with the
highest production of energy per unit area and per unit time in comparison to
major field crops like wheat, rice and maize. RTCs have great potential to generate
self-employment and double farmers’ income, especially in developing countries.
Perspective towards RTCs is changing from being “Poor man’s food” to “Climate-
resilient crops”. The production potential of RTCs is projected to increase
over a while with technological interventions and resilience to sustain under
unfavourable environments, though at the same time several issues need more
 vi Recent Advacnes in Root and Tuber Crops

research attention. ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Trivandrum,

Kerala and ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
are a few of their kinds of institutions solely dedicated to RTCs and with their
involvement in developing suitable varieties and technologies have transformed
RTCs production systems. Global warming mediated climate change is taking
a serious toll on agricultural productivity and it became imperative to address
climate change-related issues. RTCs could play a major role in securing food-
nutrition requirement with the sustainability and resilience of crops under
unfavourable environments. Nonetheless, more focus and attention should be
given to RTCs to address such issues and this target is full of challenges. This book
“Recent Advances in Root and Tuber Crops” deals with issues and strategies for
varietal development, preparedness for climate change, integrated pest-disease
management, enhanced availability of quality planting material, post-harvest
management and products development and value addition. During the current
Pandemic-Covid-19, growing of Root and Tuber Crops in home gardens is a sure
remedy against depression and possible food shortage. I appreciate the efforts
made by scientists of ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute in compiling
this book, which will disseminate the latest knowledge on root and tuber crops
to scientific personnel, students and all other stakeholders. I congratulate Dr
Sanket J. More, Dr. Namrata A. Giri, Dr. Suresh Kumar. J, Dr. Visalakshi Chandra
C. and Dr Sirisa T. for meticulous compilation and editing. The publisher Brillion
Publishing New Delhi has done an excellent art of printing.

Dated the 25th April 2021 (K.V. PETER)

PREFACE
This book, ‘Recent Advances in Root and Tuber Crops’ covers the various
recent trends in research and development of important root and tuber crops
in twenty-two chapters: potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), cassava (Manihot
esculenta Crantz), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.), yams (Dioscorea
spp.), elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson), taro
(Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott.) and tannia/cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium
(L.) Schott.). These crops are cultivated since time is immemorial and were
domesticated thousands of years ago. Root and tuber crops are very critical in
securing food and nutrition security as they serve as the staple food for the poorest
food producers of the developing countries. With the high biological efficiency
and ability to conquer unfavourable environments, RTCs are pivotal avenues in
addressing climate change-related problems.
The development of improved cultivars of vegetatively propagated crop plants
is handicapped by the difficulty (or even impossibility) to perform crossbreeding
due to the long growing season. Modern breeding techniques have succeeded in
reducing breeding cycles to some extent and developing high tuber and starch
yielding, abiotic stress-tolerant and post-harvest physiological deterioration
(PPD) resistant varieties. RTCs are a valuable source of starches/carbohydrates
and are propagated clonally. Almost 1/4th to 1/3rd of the total produce is utilized
as seed material in the next season, hence using quality planting material is of
utmost importance in achieving higher yield. Attempts are made to reduce the
cost of planting material with the use of the ‘Minisett technique’. Technological
interventions viz; new generation herbicides and weedicides mediated weed
control and integrated nutrient management have further enhanced the crop
productivity. New insects-pests and diseases are emerging in the era of climate
change. There is an urgent need to develop management strategies. Development
in molecular biology and biotechnology found application in plant disease
management. This ranges from identification, diagnosis to control through the use
of tissue culture, genetic engineering of crop plants as well as genome editing to
 viii Recent Advacnes in Root and Tuber Crops

create resistance in plants against invading pathogens. Post-harvest management

and value addition have significantly improved the nutritional values of RTCs.
Industrial utilization of tropical tuber crops is mainly due to their starch. Starch is
a raw material for the production of a large number of industrial products which
include modified starches for bakery, confectionery, paper and other industries.
We would like to thank the authors of the chapters for their contributions.
A special thanks to Dr. K.V. Peter for contributing Foreword for the book. Co-
operation and support received from Brillion Publishing, New Delhi is appreciated.

Sanket J. More
Namrata Ankush Giri
Suresh Kumar J.
Visalakshi Chandra C.
Sirisha Tadigiri
Contents
Foreword v
Preface vii
List of Contributors ix
1. Improved Potato Varieties for Different Agro-Ecologies of 1
India
Luthra S.K., Gupta V.K., Shambu Kumar, Kaur R.P., Dalamu,
Vinay Bhardwaj
2. Biofortification in Sweet Potato for Health and Nutrition 21
Security
Kalidas Pati, Chauhan V.B.S., Bansode V., Nedunchezhiyan M.
3. Targeted Breeding for Processing Traits in Sweet Potato for 31
Varied End Uses
Visalakshi Chandra C., Sheela M.N., Shirly Raichal Anil, Senthil
Alias Sankar
4. Postharvest Physiological Deterioration (PPD) - Insights and 39
Breeding Potential
Visalakshi Chandra C., Sheela M.N., Senthil Alias Sankar
5. Breeding for Drought Tolerance in Cassava 51
Koundinya A.V.V., More Sanket J.
6. Breeding for Drought Tolerance in Sweet Potato (Ipomoea 65
batatas L.)
Chauhan V.B.S., Behera S., Pati K., Bansode V., Nedunchezhiyan M.
7. Recent Advances in Indian Potato Production Technologies 89
Pooja Mankar, Sanjay Rawal, Paresh Chaukhande, Dua V.K.,
Manoj Kumar
8. Quality Planting Materials Production of Tropical Tuber 111
Crops
Muthuraj R.
9. Recent Advances in the Integrated Nutrient Management 129
Practices of Tropical Tuber Crops for Doubling Farmers’
Income
Susan John K., Anju P.S., Chithra S., Shanida Beegum S.U., Suja G.,
Sheela M.N., Ravi V.
10. Different Weed Control Approaches in Tropical Tuber Crops 161
Nedunchezhiyan M., Suresh Kumar J., Sunitha S.
11. Recent Advancements in Integrated Management of Potato 185
Diseases
Rahul Kumar Tiwari, Ravinder Kumar, Kailash Chandra Naga,
Vinay Sagar, Dharmendra Kumar, Milan Kumar Lal, Kumar
Nishant Chourasia, Sanjeev Sharma
12. Insect Pest of Potato Ecosystem and Their Integrated 205
Management
Kailash Chandra Naga, Rahul Kumar Tiwari, Subhash S., Milan
Kumar Lal, Arvind S. Tetarwal, Ravinder Kumar, Anuj Bhatnagar
13. Important Pests and Their Management in Tropical Tuber 227
Crops
Harish E.R., Jayaprakas C.A., Sangeetha B.G.
14. Integrated Disease Management in Tropical Tuber Crops 243
Jeeva M.L., Veena S.S., Makeshkumar T.
15. Role of Biotechnological Approaches in Disease Management 263
Makeshkumar T.
16. Post-Harvest Management, Value Addition and Processing of 287
Potato
Milan Kumar Lal, Arvind Kumar Jaiswal, Pinky Raigond, Brajesh
Singh, Nitasha Thakur, Som Dutt, Sushil Sudhakar Changan,
Dharmendra Kumar, Rahul Kumar Tiwari, Kumar Nishant
Chourasia, Kailash Naga
17. Primary and Secondary Processed Value Added Food 319
Products from Cassava
Sajeev M.S., Namrata A. Giri, Krishnakumar T., Bansode V.
18. Tapioca: Processing and Storage 341
Krishnakumar T., Sajeev M.S., Namrata A. Giri
19. Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.): Nutritional Importance 355
and Value Addition
Namrata Ankush Giri, Sajeev M.S., Bansode V.V., Krishnakumar T.,
Pradeepika Chintha
20. Nutritional Importance and Value Addition of Elephant Foot 377
Yam and Taro
Venkatraman Bansode, Giri Namrata A., Sajeev M.S., Chauhan
V.B.S., Nedunchezhiyan M., Kalidas Pati
21. Industrial Products from Tropical Tuber Crops 391
Jyothi A.N., Sajeev M.S.
About the Editors 407
List of Contributors
Anju P.S. Chauhan V.B.S.
Research Scholar, ICAR-Central Regional Centre, ICAR-Central Tuber
Tuber Crops Research Institute, Crops Research Institute, Bhubaneswar
Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Kerala, 751 019, Odisha, India
India
Behra S. Chithra S.
Regional Centre, ICAR-Central Tuber Research Scholar, ICAR-Central
Crops Research Institute, Bhubaneswar Tuber Crops Research Institute,
751 019, Odisha, India Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Kerala,
India
Arvind Kumar Jaiswal Dalamu
ICAR-Central Potato Research Station, ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute,
Jalandhar, Punjab 144 026, India Shimla-171 001, Himachal Pradesh,
India
Anuj Bhatnagar Dharmendra Kumar
ICAR-Central Potato Research Station, ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute,
Modipuram 250 110, Uttar Pradesh, India Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh,
India
Bhardwaj Vinay Dua V.K.
ICRA-Central Potato Research Institute, ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute,
Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh, India. Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh,
India
Bansode V. Gupta V.K.
ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute,
Nagpur 440 033, Maharashtra, India Regional Station, Modipuram-250 110,
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
Brajesh Singh Harish E.R
ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research
Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh, India Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017,
Kerala, India
Jayaprakas C.A. Manoj Kumar
ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research ICAR- Central Potato Research Institute,
Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Regional Station, Modipuram 250 110,
Kerala, India Uttar Pradesh, India
Jeeva M.L. Milan Kumar Lal
ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute,
Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh,
Kerala, India India
Jyothi A.N. More Sanket J.
ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research
Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017,
Kerala, India Kerala, India
Kaur R.P. Muthuraj R.
ICAR-Central Potato Research Station, ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research
Jalandhar-144 003, Punjab, India. Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017,
Kerala, India
Kailash Chandra Naga Namrata A. Giri
ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, ICAR-National Research Centre
Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh, India on Pomegranate, Solapur 413 255,
Maharashtra, India
Kalidas Pati Nedunchezhiyan M.
Regional Centre, ICAR-Central Tuber Regional Centre, ICAR-Central Tuber
Crops Research Institute, Bhubaneswar Crops Research Institute, Bhubaneswar
751 019, Odisha, India 751 019, Odisha, India
Krishnakumar T. Nitasha Thakur
ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute,
Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh
Kerala, India
Koundinya A.V.V. Paresh Chaukhande
ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute,
Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Regional Station, Modipuram 250 110,
Kerala, India Uttar Pradesh, India
Kumar Nishant Chourasia Pinky Raigond
ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute,
Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh, India Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh,
India
Luthra S.K. Pooja Mankar
ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute,
Regional Station, Modipuram-250 110, Regional Station, Modipuram 250 110,
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. Uttar Pradesh, India
Pradeepika Chintha Shambu Kumar
ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research ICAR-Central Potato Research Station,
Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Patna 801 506, Bihar, India
Kerala, India
Rahul Kumar Tiwari Sheela M.N.
ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research
Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh, India Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017,
Kerala, India
Ravi V. Shirly Raichal Anil
ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research
Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017,
Kerala, India Kerala, India
Ravinder Kumar Som Dutt
ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute,
Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh, India Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh,
India
Sajeev M.S. Subhash S.
ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research ICAR-Central Potato Research Station,
Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Modipuram 250 110, Uttar Pradesh,
Kerala, India India
Sangeetha B.G. Suresh Kumar J.
ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research
Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017,
Kerala, India Kerala, India
Sanjeev Sharma Suja G.
ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research
Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh, India Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017,
Kerala, India
Sanjay Rawal Sunitha S.
ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research
Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh, India Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017,
Kerala, India
Senthil Alias Sankar Susan John K.
Sadakathullah Appa College, Tirunelveli ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research
627 011, Tamil Nadu, India Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017,
Kerala, India.
Shanida Beegum S.U. Sushil Sudhakar Changan
Research Scholar, ICAR-Central ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute,
Tuber Crops Research Institute, Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh,
Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Kerala, India
India
T. MakeshKumar Vinay Sagar
ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute,
Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Shimla 171 001, Himachal Pradesh, India
Kerala, India
Veena S.S. Visalakshi Chandra C.
ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research
Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017,
Kerala, India Kerala, India
 About the Editors

Dr. Sanket J. More, Scientist, ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute,

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala is working on the aspect of climate change, elevated
CO2 and abiotic stress physiology. He is the recipient of the ‘Vice-Chancellor Gold
Medal’ and ‘ASPEE Foundation Gold Medal’ for his academic excellence. He is
also the recipient of prestigious ‘INSPIRE Fellowship’ sponsored by the Dept. of
Science and Technology, Govt. of India. He has three years of editorial experience
for the Journal of Root Crops (Indian Society for Root Crops).

Dr. Namrata Ankush Giri is presently working as ARS Scientist (Food Technology)
at ICAR-National Research Center on Pomegranate, Solapur, Maharashtra. She
also served as Scientist in Division of Crop Utilization at ICAR-Central Tuber
Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala for 6 years. She
got her under graduate (B.Tech) and post-graduate (M.Tech) from College of Food
Technology, Marathwada Agricultural University (MAU), Parbhani, Maharashtra
and Ph.D. in Food Technology at University Department of Chemical Technology
(UDCT), Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad (M.S).
She also worked as Assistant Professor in different Food Technology Colleges.
She passed ICAR- NET and Agriculture Research Service (ARS) examination
conducted by ASRB in the subject of Food Technology. Her present area of interest
includes health foods and functional foods development. She has authored and co-
authored several papers and review articles in different national and international
journals. She also published 2 books as an editor. She worked as a reviewer for
various journals and also a member of Association of Food Science and Technology
(AFST) organization. She has also presented research papers in various national
and international Conference/ Seminars. She bagged many awards as best women
scientist, best oral presentation etc.
Dr. J. Suresh Kumar is working as ARS Scientist (Vegetable Science) in Division
of Crop Production at ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI),
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He got his under graduate (B.Sc) from College of
Agriculture, Acharya N.G Ranga Agriculture University, Hyderabad, and Post
graduate (M.Sc) from College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar Campus, Dr. Y.S.R
Horticulture University, Venkataramannagudem, Andhra Pradesh and Ph.D. in
Horticulture (Vegetable Science) from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyala,
Nadia, West Bengal. He worked as Programme Manager and Assistant Director
(i/c) Horticulture 2011-12, Department of Rural Development, Government of
Unified Andhra Pradesh state, and worked as Asst. Manager and Credit officer in
Andhra Bank during 2012-13. He passed ICAR- NET and Agriculture Research
Service (ARS) examination conducted by ASRB in the subject of Vegetable
Science. His present area of interest includes vertical farming, weed management,
nutrition and health in root and tuber Crops. He has authored and co-authored
several book chapters, technical reports, research papers and review articles in
reputed national and international journals. Presently coordinating the research
activities of All India Coordinated Research Project on Tuber Crops having 21
centres across India.

Dr. Visalakshi Chandra C. completed M.Sc and Ph. D. degree in Genetics

and Plant Breeding from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology,
Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. She joined ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute
(ICAR-CTCRI) in 2015 as an ARS scientist in the discipline of Genetics and Plant
Breeding. As a Plant Breeder, she is involved in the identification of QTLs linked to
Postharvest Physiological Deterioration tolerance in Cassava. She is also involved
in systematic investigation on various aspects of PPD in Cassava such as influence
of PPD on tuber characters, cooking quality, starch content etc. She has immense
hands-on experience and practical knowledge in handling breeding works in crops
such as rice, oilseed brassica, wheat, cotton and tuber crops especially cassava.
She has generated mapping populations segregating for postharvest physiological
deterioration tolerance for QTL mapping in cassava. She has bagged “Young
Scientist Award” for oral presentation on Characterization and identification of
genotypes for tolerance to post-harvest physiological deterioration in cassava” at
National Conference on Tropical Tuber Crops -2016 held at ICAR-CTCRI. She
has experience in training farmers about various high yielding varieties and other
improved techniques. She is greatly interested in scientific communication of
any form and has published research articles, popular articles and book chapters
related to rice, mustard, cassava and sweet potato. She has presented all her work
orally and otherwise at different platforms.

Dr. Sirisha Tadigiri, Scientist, Nematology, ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural

Research, Regional station, Vemagiri, Rajamahendravaram has specialisation in
management of root-knot nematode using biocontrol agents, Conventional and
molecular taxonomic studies, biosystematics and scanning electron microscopy
studies of nematodes. She has more than five years of research experience and
has made significant contributions for the management of root-knot nematode
by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and identified host races in Heterodera cajani
populations by using conventional and molecular techniques. She is the life
member in Nematological society of India.

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