Combating the unseen enemy of yam

Abstract

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are responsible for substantial yield and post-harvest losses in yam production among smallholders in Africa. A seed wrap technology provides a low-cost, nature-based solution.

Food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) largely depends on subsistence farming, but previous studies1 have casted doubt on this system’s ability to keep up with the twofold population increase projected for the region by 2050 (ref. 2). Among several biotic and abiotic factors hampering SSA’s agricultural production are pests and diseas...