Essai de la production des semences assainies de macabo (Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. Schott) par la méthode de PIF (Plant Issu d’un Fragment de Tige)

Abstract

The rhizomes of Xanthosoma sagittifolium of white variety, harvested in the Ebolowa locality in Southern Cameroon were cultivated in the Higher Teacher’s Training School of Yaounde 1 through a completely randomized monofactorial experimental plan with the aim of producing completely disinfected seeds through the PIF method. The study was carried out from December 24, 2020 to April 30, 2021. The cultivation was realised in propagators of arbuscular mycorrhizeal fungi. The agronomic parameters, notably the weight of rhizome, the number of broke-up buds, the size of bud, the number of leaves, the diameter of the collar and the number of plants weanned were observed during 6 weeks, corresponding to a production cycle in the seedbed with an observation frequency of 2 weeks. The data collected were analysed with Microsoft Excel 2010 and Graphpad softwares. The test applied for the separation of means was that of Student-Newmann and Keuls. Henceforth, at the end of the 6 weeks, the weight of the rhizome which had been treated with arbuscular mycorrhizeal fungi (T1) had significantly increased (P<0,001) compared with that of the test rhizome (T0). The number of broke-up buds per rhizome was significantly higher (P<0,001) on the rhizomes of T0 with respect to those of T1. Furthermore, the size and number of leaves of the broke-up buds on rhizomes of T1 had revealed a statisticaly significant superiority (P<0,001) compared with that of T0. Otherwise, the collar diameter and the number of weanned plants on the rhizomes of T0 had a non-significant increase (P>0,05) compared to the rhizomes of T1. So, the mycorrhizae could have a strong implication in the absorption of water and nutrients. Which was hence manifested through the weight gain, the size and the folliage at the level of the rhizome’s buds which had recieved a treatment with arbuscular mycorrhizeal fungi.