Assessment of water yam (Dioscorea alata L.) landrace varieties for resistance to anthracnose disease

Yam anthracnose disease (YAD), caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz, is most damaging fungal of Dioscorea alata yam worldwide. Local varieties, which sustain Côte d'Ivoire’s farmers and other end-users livelihoods, are highly susceptible to this pathogen. Thus, there a need for developing new cultivars production in d'Ivoire. To achieve such objective, identifying selecting sources resistance within existing germplasm crucial prior establishment breeding program. This study, therefore, aimed at determining field C. 115 D. landrace varieties. Field experiments were conducted Research Station Food Crops (SRCV) CNRA, Bouaké City, Central d'Ivoire, three growing seasons. Results showed that symptoms more noticeable four months after planting (P3): high severity incidence scores. At period, ‘Betebete’ group (DSS = 3.40 DI 99.81%) was sensitive across years. In contrast, ‘Brazo’ 2.24 94.81%) ‘Florido’ 2.59 97.23%) groups least sensitive. finding indicates local accessions from d’Ivoire have different sensitivity levels attacks. Therefore, genetic diversity work should be further exploited improvement programs cultivars, combining YAD, yield potential, superior tuber quality meet producers consumers’ needs. Key words: Anthracnose, resistance, environment, alata, plant breeding.