FIRST CONTROLLED PROGENIES CHECKED BY ISOZYMIC MARKERS IN CULTIVATED YAMS DIOSCOREA-CAYENENSIS-ROTUNDATA

As tested progeny have never been obtained, breeding studies on Africa n yams (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) are scarce. We report here the first progenies checked by isoenzyme markers. This was made possible by the choice of well-known genitors [one male (cv Zrezrou) and three females (cvs 'Sopere', 'Dahomey' and 'C 20')] and special hybridizatio n conditions. Six enzymatic systems [esterase (EST), isocitrate dehydr ogenase (ICD), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrog enase (6PGD), shikimate dehydrogenase (SDH), and phosphoglucoisomerase (PGI)] were used to check the progenies and detect outbreeding. Despi te the small number of progeny, it was possible to provide information on the genetics of the isoenzymatic systems.