Understanding Biotic Constraints to Taro (<i>Colocasia esculenta</i>) Production in the Derived Savanna and Humid Forest Agroecosystems of Nigeria.

ABSTRACT: Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a socioeconomically and nutritionally important crop that is predominantly cultivated in the derived savanna and humid forest agroecosystems of Nigeria. Taro production in the country has declined since the taro leaf blight (TLB) outbreak caused by Phytophthora colocasiae Raciborski. This study conducted field surveys during the 2021-2022 production season to assess the status of taro diseases, as well as a structured questionnaire to capture farmers' management practices and the socio-economic determinants of taro cultivation across seven major taro-producing states in Nigeria. Data was collected from 63 randomly selected farmers across 53 farms, and 449 corms were sampled from farms and markets to assess corm-borne diseases. Sixty-three percent

SUBMITTER: Oladimeji JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12656383 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature