How Do You Propagate Dioscorea Alata?

How Do You Propagate Dioscorea Alata?

Because Dioscorea seldom flowers in parts of the United States, the seed isn’t a frequent means of propagation.

Gardeners instead rely on aerial tubers or root propagation. To begin, separate the root or aerial tubers from the remainder of the plant. Unless the tuber is very little, split it into many parts. Each one might be a Dioscorea Alata.

After cutting, the pieces must be let cured for a few days. Otherwise, when planted, the new wounds may decay soon. Dip the cut end in wood ash to speed up the process.

When the pieces are dry, bury them in a pail of dirt and keep them wet. When the young yams sprout, you may transplant them to their permanent location.

Can Dioscorea Alata Be Used As A Folk Medicine?

Although D. Alata is marketed as a dietary supplement and is used in folk medicine, there is no clinical proof that it has therapeutic effects.

Supplementation with D. Alata may have negative consequences in those using estrogen, anticoagulant medications, or during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some persons may experience adverse responses to D. Alata supplements.

1. Alata contains oxalates in rather high concentrations (486-781 mg/100 g dry matter), which are linked to ant nutritional effects and kidney stone development.

Purple variants get their color from anthocyanin pigments. Because the pigments are water-soluble, they have been proposed as food coloring agents.

1. Alata is sometimes planted as an ornamental in gardens.

Is Dioscorea Alata Invasive Species?

Dioscorea Alata is indigenous to Southeast Asia and the neighboring regions (Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands of Japan, Assam, lowland areas of Nepal, New Guinea, and Christmas Island).

It has spread beyond its original range, becoming naturalized in portions of southern and east-central China, Africa and Madagascar, the Western Hemisphere, and several islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

It survives in the wild in Haiti as well as the United States, where it is designated an invasive species in Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and Florida.

What’s The Common Problems For Dioscorea Alata?

When tubers are exposed to sunlight while growing, they turn green. It’s caused by the tubers creating chlorophyll, the same chemical that powers photosynthesis in plants.

When consumed in sufficient quantities, chlorophyll can be hazardous to humans. To be on the safe side, throw out any green parts.

Avoid this by keeping the tubers covered at all times while they are developing. If the tubers poke through the dirt, swiftly create a mound over them.

Pest Infestations

Root-knot nematodes attack this plant where it hurts the most: the tuber. They will stymie their growth, causing knots and deformities.

You’ll observe stunted growth and fading foliage above ground. Prevent these nematodes by thoroughly tilling the soil before and after harvesting.

Crop rotation using nematode-resistant plants is also recommended. Nematicides can be used to treat existing infestations.

Treatments based on geraniol and quillaja Saponaria are an excellent organic choice. Add helpful nematodes to the soil instead since they will hunt down and destroy the root-knot nematodes.

Scale insects, especially white scales and mealybugs, are widespread pests that feed on the juice of Dioscorea Alata.

They emit honeydew, which attracts ants, another nuisance to be eradicated. Preventing these insects in the first place is the best way.

The best precautions are to keep the soil free of debris and the plant dry. You may also clip affected vines or use rubbing alcohol to eradicate bugs one by one.

If you have a huge infestation, consider applying insecticidal soap or beneficial predators like lacewings or ladybugs. Their eggs can be killed by neem oil or horticultural oil.

Disease Problems

Anthracnose is a fungal disease that causes leaf blotches on your lovely Dioscorea Alata. It can cause the leaves to yellow and wither over time, finally destroying them.

This illness is typically not lethal to the entire plant, but it might have a negative impact on its growth.

To cure this fungus, use neem oil, copper fungicide, or sulfur dust fungicide. Keep your plant clean and dry to avoid anthracnose.

The mosaic virus causes a “mosaic” of colour on the leaves, commonly in yellow and green tones.

The pigmentation is caused by damage to the veins, which are essential to the plant’s vitality.

This disease will impede the growth of Dioscorea Alata and even impair the starch content of the tuber.

This virus is generally spread through Dioscorea Alata cuttings, thus plant only disease-free yams.

Insects can also spread the disease, so prepare for any pest concerns. Because there is no treatment for this condition, prevention is your only option.

Are Dioscorea Alata Leaves Edible?

Purple yam is an herbaceous perennial with tubers and roots. When cooked, its tubers are edible and can be boiled, mashed, fried, or served in other ways.

According to Plants for a Future, purple yam tubers, which are generally brilliant purple with white, watery flesh, can be hazardous if eaten uncooked. Purple yam plants may be grown by planting tuber cuttings.

Sweet potato contains edible leaves and is frequently mistaken with Dioscorea. We do not advocate eating Dioscorea Alata leaves.

While some yams have safe leaves after being cooked, this one is still dangerous.

How Fast Do Dioscorea Alata Grow?

The vines aren’t the only thing that’s sprouting. Every plant has one subterranean tuber. If the tubers are not picked, they will continue to grow until they reach 8 feet in length.

The vines will occasionally produce tiny, aerial tubers above ground (similar to the air potato). These bulbils are designed to grow into new plants and are ideal for propagation.

These plants may be fast-growing, but they are not invincible. They only survive the winter in zones 9-11. They must be cultivated as an annual in cooler climates.

When harvesting, make sure to thoroughly boil the tubers before eating them because they are deadly when raw! Do not consume any ube that tastes harsh. Cooking should make it safe, but the bitterness is a warning sign.

Is Dioscorea Alata A Vine?

Dioscorea Alata is a twining herbaceous vine that may reach heights of 30 feet (9.1 m). In the extreme southeastern United States, it invades open shady places.

The opposing leaves are 8 in. (20.3 cm) long, narrowly heart-shaped, and have long petioles. The stems are square with compressed corners that form wings.

The vine hardly ever blooms.

The aerial potato-like tubers (bulbils) situated in the leaf axils and subterranean tubers are the primary modes of reproduction.

Is Dioscorea Alata Annual?

Dioscorea Alata, often known as water yam or winged yam, is a yam family fast-growing, twining, tuberous-rooted, herbaceous perennial vine (Dioscoreaeae).

It yields a big root crop of edible underground tubers (yams), a major starchy food source in many tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

This plant can be cultivated annually in containers where it is not winter hardy. Temperatures over 70 degrees F are ideal for plant growth.

How Do I Store Harvested Dioscorea Alata?

Keep freshly gathered Dioscorea on the kitchen counter or in the cupboard. It only has to keep dry, or it will grow.

Remember that the tubers are dangerous when raw, so you must thoroughly boil them. It’s also a good idea to wear gloves when preparing them.

Cook the Dioscorea Alata winged yam like a potato. If you have a sweet craving, look up Dioscorea dessert dishes like ube cupcakes on Pinterest.

If you have a large tuber, you may cut it into pieces, and the leftover winged yam will typically be alright.

How Tall Can Dioscorea Alata Get?

Because Dioscorea Alata is grown all over the world, it goes by many various names. The colloquial term winged yam refers to the appearance of the stem.

It has a square form with flat ridges, or “wings,” on the corners. You may also hear it referred to as “water yam,” which refers to the tuber’s high water content. In Phillippine cuisine, these plants are also known as “ube” or “Ubi.”

It’s not precisely demanding, but producing and controlling winged yam is no easy task. The vines may grow to be 20-30 feet tall and commonly climb neighboring trees.

They grow so fast that some gardeners claim to have seen 8 inches of growth in a single day.

Is Dioscorea Alata Hardy?

Dioscorea Alata is hardy in USDA Zones 9-11 and grows best in deep, fertile, organically rich, humusy, consistently wet, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.

It is not acceptable to allow the soil to dry out. Vine requires a support structure to grow on in order for the leaf to obtain adequate sunlight exposure.

Invasive plants can spread by seed, subterranean tubers, and bulbils (aerial tubers).

Harvest tubers at the end of the growing season and replant each year to help avoid invasive spread and remove and destroy any bulbils that emerge.

Plants in tropical places lie dormant for around three months after the rainy season ends. Plants in frost-free places lose their leaves and fall dormant in the winter.

How Many Varieties Of Dioscorea Alata?

Ube is ube in most areas. Others, particularly the Philippines, have several diverse variations of this species. Kinampay is said to be the first winged yam species.

It is known as the “Queen of Philippine Yams” and comes in four varieties: tamisan, binanag, kabus-ok, and binato.

Distinct types of these yams frequently have different hues. While most, like Zambales, keep to the traditional purple, others use various colors of white.

For example, the Basco cultivar is white with a lavender hue. The Leyte variety ranges in hue from a nice cream to pink.