Jpn. J. Trop. Agr.

46(4): 247-258, 2002

Taro in Northern Vietnam: Its Uses, Cultivation, and Genetic Variation

Masahiko MATSUDAand Eiji NAWATA

*

The Japan Center for Area Studies, National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka 565-8511, Japan
* Graduate School of Agriculture , Kyoto University,Kyoto 606-8502, Japan

Abstract Uses and cultivation of taro species were investigated in the Red River Delta and the mountainous region of northern
Vietnam, to analyze the present situation and to compare the two ecological areas. Morphological characteristics , ploidy, and ribosomal
DNA (rDNA) variation were examined for the taro plants collected. Colocasia esculenta var . esculenta, C. esculenta var, aquatilis, C.
gigantea, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, X violaceum, Alocasia macrorrhiza, and A, odora were detected in the surveys. The uses and
habitats of C. esculenta var. aquatilis were linked to the agroecosystems of the delta. The plant was frequently found around canals and
farmers' ponds in the delta, and its petioles and stolons were harvested for human consumption and pig fodder. Its importance as pig
fodder seemed to have declined gradually, due to the recent social and economic changes . Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta was grown
mainly as a cash crop in the delta. On the other hand, it was grown for local consumption in the shifting cultivation system at a
mountainous site. Genetically close cultivars of var. esculenta were found within each ecological area , but not between the areas, based
on the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of rDNA. This distribution in northern Vietnam may reflect the
influence of differences in the dispersal in Asia. Xanthosoma spp. were found at all the sites, and there was a similarity in their uses and
cultivation. The accessions of Xanthosoma spp. were genetically uniform. Colocasia gigantea was not very common, but was widely
distributed and used as a vegetable.
Key words Agroecosystem, Alocasia, Colocasia, Ploidy, RFLP, Xanthosoma

ベ トナ ム 北部 にお ける タ ロイ モ:そ の利 用,栽 培 お よび 遺伝 的 変 異 松 田正 彦 ・縄 田栄 治* 国立 民 族 学博 物 館 地 域研 究
企 画 交 流 セ ン ター 〒565-8511大 阪府 吹 田市 千 里 万 博:公園10-1 *京 都大 学 大 学 院 農 学研 究 科 〒606-8502京 都 市左 京
区北 白川 追 分 町

要 約 ベ トナ ム北 部 の 紅 河 デル タ と山 地 部 に お い て,タ ロ イ モ 数 種 の 利 用 と栽 培 につ い て 調 査 し た.そ の現 状 や 変 化 を農 業 生 態 ・
社 会 ・経 済 的 な側 面 か ら考 察 し,ま た,異 な る生 態 地 域 間 で の 比 較 を お こな った.さ ら に,収 集 した30系 統 の タ ロ イモ につ い て は ,
形 態 ・倍 数 性 ・リボ ゾー ムDNAに お け る制 限 酵 素 断 片 長 多 型(RFLP)の 調 査 か ら遺 伝 的 変 異 を 明 らか に した .本 研 究 で はColocasia
esculenta var. esculenta, C.esculenta var. aquatilis, C.gigantea, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, X.violaceum, Alocasia macrorhizaお よび
A. odoraが 観 察 され た.デ ル タ の調 査 地 で は(C. esculentavar. aquatilis(2n=2x=28)が 灌 漑 水 路 脇 や 池 の周 囲 に 頻 繁 に群 生 して お り ,
その 葉 柄 や 匍 匐 枝 は 野 菜 や ブ タの 飼 料 と して利 用 され て い た .こ のvar. aquatilisは デ ル タの 農 業 生 態 系 で機 能 して い る こ と が わ か っ
た が,近 年,水 路 や 池 の 舗 装 や 飼 料 の 多様 化 な どに よ り 、 その 重 要 度 が 低 下 して い た .C. esculenta var. esculenta(2n=2x,3x=28,42)
は デ ル タ で は 商 品 作 物 と し て栽 培 され,一 方 ,山 地 部 で は 自給 用 に焼 畑 で 栽 培 され て い た.リ ボ ゾ ー ムDNAのRFLP分 析 よ り,デ
ル タ地 域 あ るい は 山地 部 の 調 査 地 内 で は それ ぞ れ 遺 伝 的 に 近 縁 なvar . esculentaの 品 種 が み られ た.し か し,両 地 域 に 分 布 す る近 縁
な 品 種 はみ られ な か っ た.こ の 分布 の 傾 向 は,ア ジ ア に お け るC. esculentaの 複 数 の 伝 播 経 路 が この 地 域 に影 響 した 結 果 と考 え られ
た.Xanthosoma spp.(2n=26)は す べ て の調 査 地 に 分 布 し,そ の 利 用 や 栽 培 に 類 似 性 がみ と め られ た.収 集 したXanthosoma系 統 も
遺 伝 的 に均 一 で あ っ た.Colocasia gigantea(2n=28)も それ ほ ど頻 繁 で は ない が野 菜 と して広 く複 数 の 調 査 地 に 分布 して い た.Alocasia
odoya(2n=28)は 薬 用 と して用 い られ,A. macyoyyhizaは 山 地 部 で ブ タの 飼 料 と して 頻 繁 に採 集 され て い た .
キ ー ワー ド 農 業 生 態,倍 数 性,Alocasia, Colocasia, RFLP, Xanthosoma

narrow sense, has been a very important crop

Introduction
among them, and is cultivated widely in Asia,
The term taro in a broad sense is used for Oceania, and Africa. HOTTA5)classified it into two
edible aroids including several genera: Alocasia, varieties, var. esculenta and var. aquatilis. Var.
Colocasia, Cyrtosperma, Schismatoglottis, and aquatilis is a wild type taro with long stolons
Xanthosoma6). Most of the species originated in which grows mostly in wild or ruderal habitats,
Asia and Oceania, whereas Xanthosoma had whereas var. esculenta is a cultivated ones5).
originated in the New World. Their leaf blades, Several taro species are distributed widely
petioles, corms, and cormels have been mainly in Vietnam. HUE8)reported that C. esculenta, C.
used for human consumption and animal gigantea, X. sagittifolium,X. violaceum,A. macrorrhiza,
fodder7). Colocasia esculenta, which is taro in the and Cyrtosperma chammisonis were grown in
Received Nov. 22, 2001 farmers' fields and home gardens under a wide
Accepted May 18, 2002 range of environmental conditions throughout
248 Jpn. J. Trop. Agr. 46 (4) 2002

Vietnam. HODEL and GESSLER4) suggested that Methods

taro was a key species to home gardens in Field surveys were carried out from October

southern Vietnam, and reported the distribution 1998 to January 1999. Surveys of wide areas in

of C. esculenta, X sagittifolium, A. macrorrhiza, northern Vietnam were conducted first, followed

and A. odora from the Mekong Delta to the by surveys at the five sites selected. Information

highland regions. about the uses, cultivation, and cultivars of taro

In this paper, we report the utilization and was collected widely through direct observation

cultivation of taro species in northern Vietnam. and interviews with the farmers and staff

To analyze the present situation of taro species members of the communes and hamlets.

from an agroecosystem as well as social and Thirty taro plants were collected from

economic perspective, relevant information on farmers' fields, home gardens, local markets,

the agriculture is broadly described. The surveys etc., and were grown in pots in a greenhouse at

were mainly conducted at five sites, located in Kyoto University, Japan. Morphological data were

the Red River Delta and the mountainous region, collected at the research sites and/or in the

to compare different ecological areas. Additionally, greenhouse. Descriptions of the characteristics

we indicate the morphological characteristics, were chiefly based on IPGRI criteria (descriptions)9).

ploidy, and ribosomal DNA variation of taro plants Chromosome number and ribosomal DNA

collected, to discuss the genetic relationship of (rDNA) variation were examined for 10 accessions
taro among the sites. of C. gigantea, Xanthosoma spp., and A, odora
using the methods described below. While in
Research Sites and Methods
the other 20 accessions of C. esculenta these

Research sites parameters had been surveyed previously using

Five sites (hamlets) were selected for this the same methods, for discussion about

study. The research sites were located in two dispersal routes of taro in Asia14).

different ecological areas, i.e. the Red River Delta Somatic cell chromosome numbers were

and the mountainous region, and the people determined according to the methods of COATEs

living there belonged to various ethnic groups, et al.2) and KURUVILLA and SINGH11). Fresh root

such as the Kinh, Dao, and Hmong people. tips were pretreated with 0.2% aqueous colchicine

Ecological and ethnological information about or 2 mM 8-hydroxyquinoline for 4 hours and

the five hamlets is briefly indicated in Table 1, fixed in a mixture of ethanol and acetic acid (3:1

and their locations are shown in Fig. 1. v/v). The tips were then hydrolyzed in 1 M HCl

Elevation of the sites ranged from 0 m for 4 minutes at 60•Ž and stained with Schiff's

above sea level (asl) in the delta to 1090 m asl in reagent. Each stained root tip was squashed in

the mountainous region. Two hamlets, Noi 45% acetic acid and examined under an optical

Hoang Tay and Ninh Binh, were located in the microscope.

Red River Delta region defined by BINNIEet al.1). Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism

At the two sites of the delta, the Kinh people (RFLP) of rDNA was obtained as follows. DNA
have lived and practiced mainly paddy rice samples (1.5 ƒÊg each), which were isolated using

cultivation. Ninh Binh is located in the hill area the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)

and at a higher elevation than Noi Hoang Tay. method of MURRAY and THOMPSON18) with some

The other three sites, Suoi Nhung, Hua Tat, and modifications, were digested with a restriction

Sao Do II, were selected in the mountainous endonuclease, Taq I, following the manufac-

region. Minority ethnic groups, such as the Dao ture's instructions (Takara Co., Ltd.), and were

and Hmong people, have lived, respectively, in electrophoresed in 0.8% agarose gels using TAE

Suoi Nhung and Hua Tat. They have mainly (40 mM Tris, 40 mM acetic acid, 1 mM EDTA,

practiced shifting cultivation on sloping land. In pH 8.0) as a running buffer. DNA fragments
Sao Do II, the households of the Kinh people were transferred onto nylon membranes (Hybond

who migrated from the delta region in the 1960s N+, Amersham Co., Ltd.) following the manufac-

live and most of them are affiliated to a milk ture's instructions. To detect polymorphic

company of the neighboring city, Thao Nguyen ribosomal DNA fragments, the DNA samples

City were hybridized with a taro rDNA probe. The

DNA probe was obtained from pCe 34.11, a

MATSUDAand NAWATA:Taro in northern Vietnam 249
250
Fig. 1 Research sites. Shaded
to the area of the Red River Delta defined
pUC19 plasmid clone constructed by MATTHEws
et al.15).This plasmid contained a 2.8 kb Taq I
fragment from the large intergenic spacer region
of rDNA, between the 18S and 26S ribosomal
RNA genes. For hybridization, the Taq I fragment
was purified, labeled with digoxygenin-dUTP, and
detected enzymatically, according to the manufac-
ture's instructions (Boehringer Mannheim Co.,
Ltd.).
Results and Discussion
Uses and cultivation of taro in northern Vietnam
The present utilization and cultivation of
taro in northern Vietnam are described here in
detail (summarized in Table 1). Emphases was
mainly placed on Noi Hoang Tay hamlet in the
Red River Delta and Suoi Nhung hamlet in the
mountainous region, and the other research
sites were mentioned additionally. First, a brief
outline of agriculture at the sites will be
introduced. Then after, the uses, cultivation and
cultivars will be described.
Jpn. J. Trop. Agr. 46 (4) 2002
portion for the sites in northern Vietnam corresponded
by BINNIE et al.1)
Taro in the Red River Delta
Noi Hoang Tay, about 80 km east of Hanoi,
which is one of the five hamlets belonging to
bang Que Commune, Dong Trieu District in
Quang Ninh Province, is located at the eastern
edge of the Red River Delta. Rice, which was
cultivated over 78% of agricultural land of the
commune, was the major food crop and income
source, as in most of the areas in the delta.
Predominant cropping pattern in the commune
was rice double cropping, which had been
started in the 1970s, with a winter crop of maize
or sweet potato. Vegetables, such as cabbage,
Chinese cabbage, onion, garlic, lettuce, soybean,
groundnut, and so on, were also frequently grown
on a small scale as cash crops. Irrigation and
drainage in the commune were implemented at
five pumping stations and through tidal power.
Most of the households had a home garden and
a pond around their houses, and raised pigs
commercially.
Ninh Binh hamlet belongs to Binh Khe
Commune in the same district as Hoang Que
 MATSUDA and NAWATA: Taro in northern Vietnam 251

Commune. The elevation of the commune is fish powder, and purchased concentrate feed.
higher than that of Hoang Que Commune, and The farmers mentioned that diversification of
the commune consists of flat and hilly areas. In the cropping pattern after a series of renovation
the flat land, double cropping of rice with winter policies in Vietnam had led to the diversification
crop was mainly practiced. The area of single of pig fodder. In December in Noi Hoang Tay,
cropping of rice, however, was as large as that of leaves of sweet potato cultivated as winter crop
double cropping. Orchards of litchi have spread were used for pig fodder, and were sold at local
in the hilly area in recent years. Pig raising and markets. MATTHEWS et al.16)suggested that due
fishponds were frequently observed. to the introduction of the substitutes, e.g. sweet
Colocasia esculenta var. aquatilis: C. esculenta potato, and the replacement of household pig
var. aquatilis, which is a wild type taro with long husbandry by commercial piggeries, var, aquatilis
stolons, grew frequently in the delta. It was most became ruderal in Okinawa Island, southern
common and dominant among the taro species Japan. In our survey, some farmers have
in Noi Hoang Tay. The people classified it into recently started to cultivate a leaf vegetable Rau
Khoai Bong (soft taro) and Khoai Nuoc (water taro), Can (Oenanthe javanica) in their ponds for selling.
based on the presence of a purple pigmentation The plant had been used for the maintenance
in the center of the leaf blade surface (present of ponds. Farmers planted the variety around
in the former and absent in the latter). Only their ponds for protection against the erosion of
Khoai Bong was found in this survey at the site. the bank. It was planted around a repaired pond
In Ninh Binh, this variety was less commonly at present, although the number of ponds paved
observed than in Noi Hoang Tay, and it was with brick and concrete had increased from the
called Khoai Dom (spot taro, •gspot•h in reference middle of the 1980s.
to the purple pigmentation of the leaf center). Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta: C. esculenta
Var. aquatilis in Noi Hoang Tay was mostly var esculenta, generally called Khoai So in
found around farmers' ponds and along canals Vietnamese, was cultivated in small-scale upland
in the village. It did not grow along canals that fields as one of the commercial crops at the
were far from the settlements and the paved sites, for supply for urban areas. Since its lateral
canals (although paved canals were rare). In Ninh cormels fetched a higher price than the corm,
Binh it occurred around some farmers' fishponds. the farmers conducted earthing up to grow
Its petioles were harvested as a vegetable food more cormels. The corms and cormels were
and for pig fodder, and its stolon was used as a generally cooked with pig bones. Seed cormels
vegetable food, mainly from spring to summer, were stored by the farmers on the ground by
at both sites. The stolon was peeled and cooked covering them with straw in home gardens,
as an ingredient for soup. In Ninh Binh some under litchi trees, and inside the house.
farmers stored the petioles for pigs after drying. Cultivation for local consumption, however, was
Growing of var. aquatilis had been promoted for not frequently observed even in home gardens
human consumption and animal fodder by the at the sites.
government in the 1960s20) It was possible to plant the crop all the year
Wild plants from ponds for pig fodder round in the physical environment of the delta.
included not only C. esculenta var. aquatilis but There were mainly two types of cropping
also water hyacinth (Eichhornia cnassipes), Azolla patterns including taro at the sites. One common
imbricata, Pistia stratiotes, Ludwigia adscendens, cropping pattern consisted of rainy season rice
and so on, according to the farmers in Noi (cultivated from June to November) and taro.
Hoang Tay, where the ponds in the village Taro was harvested from March to May. When
played important roles in fodder production (i.e. the farmers cultivated early maturing cultivars
growth of aquatic plants) and water supply to of taro, they could use the field for nursery beds
people, as reported by RAMBO et al.21). The of rice after the harvest of taro. Another pattern
importance of wild plants for pig fodder and the consisted of taro and maize as winter crop or
role of ponds in fodder production, however, Brassica as leaf vegetable. In this pattern, taro
may have declined relatively. The people fed was harvested from August to September, when
pigs with wild plants and other various materials the market price was high, and late maturing
such as sweet potato, rice powder, maize, cabbage, and high-yielding taro cultivars could be planted.
252 Jpn. J. Trop. Agr. 46 (4) 2002
Farmers at the sites grew several cultivars
of var. esculenta. They carefully observed the
morphology, quality of the corm and cormels,
and yield ability as well as the maturation
period. In Noi Hoang Tay, for example, there
were two early maturing cultivars, Khoai Trung
(egg-shaped taro) and Khoai Trang (white taro),
which were used for about four months and one
late maturing cultivar, Khoai Van (stripe taro),
which were used for six months at least. Some
farmers pointed out that the disadvantage of
taro cultivation was its long growth period
compared with that of other leaf vegetables.
Other taro species: Xanthosoma spp. (called
Mung Tia or Khoai Trang) were often cultivated
in home gardens at the sites for local consumption.
Their petiole, corm, and cormel were used for
both human consumption and pig fodder. C.
gigantea (called Doc Mung) was grown in the
home gardens, and its petiole was eaten as a
vegetable food. Alocasia odora (called Ray) was
found on roadsides in Noi Hoang Tay, and the
corm was used as medicine for the treatment of
common cold.
Taro in the mountainous region
Suoi Nhung hamlet, Phuc San Commune,
Mai Chau District in Hoa Binh Province, is
located about 130 km west from Hanoi, and lies
at around 380 m asl in the mountainous region.
One hundred and ninety-five people lived in this
hamlet in 1997, and all of them belonged to the
Dao Trien people, one group of Dao people.
They had been practicing shifting cultivation on
slopes, and their fields were distributed from
380 to 620 m asl at least. The swidden fields had
been cultivated for three to four years. Upland
rice was first planted for two or three years,
followed by cassava or maize. The land area for
agriculture accounted for about 20% of the total
land area of the hamlet, while approximately 80%
consisted of forests protected by a government
project for reforestation and forest conservation
that started in 1995, and people planted and
grew bamboo with governmental support and
sold it as materials or source of paper. Edible
canna was a major commercial crop there that
was processed into a powder in the neighboring
hamlet. In recent years, paddy fields and
fishponds have appeared but they are still rare.
Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta: Small-scale
cultivation of C. esculenta var, esculenta for local
consumption was observed in Suoi Nhung. The
crop was usually grown in small swidden fields
(less than one a each) near the settlements,
sometimes mixed with X sagittifolium. As HUE8)
reported, it had been mixed-cropped in upland
rice fields for a meal during works in the fields.
The corms and cormels were usually cooked as
an ingredient for soup with pig bones, boiled
with rice, or just boiled without peeling.
The seed cormels, which were stored in
shallow pits covered with soil and rice straw in
the fields, were planted using a digging stick
with a steel tip (called Cam Chiu) from March to
June. In the case of mixed-cropping with upland
rice, farmers planted the cormels after sowing of
upland rice (in May). After weeding several
times, the farmers harvested the crop gradually
from September to December.
Three cultivars of the var. esculenta were
observed at the site, and their morphological
characteristics are described in Appendix 1. Hau
Doang (yellow taro) and Hau Doang Don (large
yellow taro) were named due to their yellow
corm flesh. Hau Doang had a multifaceted corm
with small hammer-shaped cormels, and Hau
Doang Don had a large round corm with round
cormels. Since Hau Pe (white taro), with a white
corm flesh had a nice scent, so the people used
the term Hau Dang (aromatic taro) as a synonym.
Other taro species: C. esculenta var. aquatilis
(called Hau Hap Bon) and C. gigantea (called Hau
Hap) were seldom observed (only one case) at
the mountainous sites, although they were
frequently found in a basin with a large expanse
of paddy fields (no research sites in this study).
C. esculenta var. aquatilis was not found around
fishponds in contrast to the sites in the delta. It
was considered that X sagittifolium had been
introduced recently, and the species was called
Con Tay Hau (French child taro). This species
was cultivated with C. esculenta var. esculenta in
small swidden fields near the settlements, for
human consumption and pig fodder. A. macrorrhiza,
called Hau Kleem (forest taro) or Hau Si Kleem
(purple forest taro), was found in the village, and
was assumed to grow in the forest. Its petioles
were commonly collected for pig fodder. Petiole of
banana, vein of sweet potato, cassava, pumpkin,
rice powder, and other wild plants were also
cooked for pig fodder. Most of the households
raised pigs for local consumption.
Other sites in the mountainous region: Hua
 MATSUDA and NAWATA: Taro in northern Vietnam 253

Tat and Sao Do II hamlets belonged to Van Ho are listed in Table 2. The 20 accessions of C.
Commune in Son La Province. The flower Hmong esculenta consisted of 10 diploid (2n=2x=28) and
people, one group of Hmong, had practiced a 10 triploid (2n=3x=42) plants. All the 5 accessions
shifting agriculture of upland rice in Hua Tat. of C. esculenta var. aquatilis were diploid (Table
Maize, edible canna, and Job's tear were also 3), which is in agreement with previous reports
cultivated commonly. Sao Do II was mainly on the ploidy of var. aquatilis5,12,16)Accessions of
inhabited by the Kinh people who had migrated C. esculenta var. esculenta collected from the
from the delta region. The formers in the hamlet mountainous region insisted of both diploid and
grew maize, cassava, and sweet potato, and triploid plants, whereas only triploid plants were
there were grasslands for dairy cattle. found in the accessions collected from the delta
Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta and Xantho- (Table 2). Chromosome numbers of Colocasia
soma spp. were sometimes cultivated in home gigantea, Xanthosoma spp., and Alocasia odora
gardens for local consumption or both sites. were 28, 26, and 28, respectively, and all the plants
Although a few farmers in Sao Do II cultivated were diploid3,7,22).
C. esculenta var. esculenta commercially, in many Twelve rDNA patterns (PM001 to PM004,
cases a small number of these crops were planted PM007, PM008, and MM013 to MM018) were
with ginger under plum trees. Plum gardens had observed in 20 accessions of C. esculenta14)(Table
been promoted for the replacement of opium 2 and Fig. 2). Patterns PM001 to PM004, PM007,
cultivation with the government financial support and PM008 were found in taros from China,
in 1990s, and were often observed. According to Taiwan, and Japan by MATTHEWSet al.15) and
the farmers in Hua Tat, the cultivation of the var. MATSUDAand NAWATA14). Patterns MM013 to
esculenta has declined gradually in recent years. MM018 were found only in Vietnam. The other
Elderly people who had migrated from the taro species, Colocasia gigantea, Xanthosoma
delta region to Sao Do II had a wide knowledge spp., and Alocasia odora, showed one rDNA
of C. esculenta var. aquatilis, but the crop was pattern each, MMg001, MMx001, and MMa001,
not found at the sites. C. gigantea was seldom respectively (Table 2 and Fig. 2). Two interspecific
grown as vegetable in home gardens at the bands were observed: a band of 3.45 kb between
sites. Sap from the petiole of A. odora had been C. esculenta (PM004) and C. gigantea (MMg001),
used as medicine for common cold. and another band of 4.00 kb between C. gigantea
(MMg001) and A. odora (MMa001).
Ploidy and rDNA variations of taro species, The geographical distribution of the rDNA
and genetic relationships among accessions patterns of C. esculenta is indicated in Table 3.
of Colocasia esculenta Common rDNA patterns were found at the
Chromosome numbers of 30 taro accessions research sites in the same ecological area,

Fig. 2 Ribosomal DNA patterns.

254 Jpn. J. Trop. Agr. 46 (4) 2002

Table 2. Accessions of taro species, and results of chromosome number determination and RFLP analysis.

* See Fig . 2.

whereas no common rDNA pattern was distrib- PM001 and PM002 of the mountainous region
uted in both ecological areas, the delta region were frequently found in taros from inland China
and the mountainous region. Compared with and the mountainous area of Japan, whereas
taros from other Asian countries, the distribu- pattern PM004 of the delta region was observed
tion in northern Vietnam may reflect the in taros from insular areas in eastern Asia:
influence of differences in the genealogy and Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands, and the coastal area
dispersal routes of C. esculenta in Asia, although at main islands of Japan13,14,15)
Pattern PM004 was
recent introduction of the cultivar after commercial reported in taros from Madagascar and Sri Lanka,
cultivation started should be considered. Patterns also17).Pattern PM007 was found at all the sites
MATSUDA and NAWATA: Taro in northern Vietnam 255
256 Jpn. J. Trop. Agr. 46 (4) 2002
 MATSUDAand NAWATA:Taro in northern Vietnam 257

of the mountainous region. The cultivars showing ponds, household pigs, and so on. The variety
this pattern displayed common morphological was frequently found around canals and ponds
characteristics in the corm and cormel shape, i.e. in a village, and had been used for pig fodder
multifaceted corm with hammer-shaped cormels and human consumption. The present situation
(Appendix 1). of the variety reflected social and economic
Morphological characteristics of the culti- changes. Pavement of canals and ponds with
vars of C. esculenta are described in Appendix 1. bricks and concrete replaced it in the protective
Some of the cultivars had common rDNA patterns role against bank erosion of these structures,
to those of the Japanese cultivar groups in terms and decreased its habitat, although the pavement
of morphological and agronomic characteristics. was not common. The diversification of pig fodder
A late maturing cultivar, Khoai Van, in Noi Hoang feed led to a decrease of the relative importance
Tay showed pattern PM004, and an early maturing of the variety.
cultivar, Khoai Trung, at the site showed pattern Small-scale cultivation of C. esculenta var.
PM003. Pattern PM004 was observed also in a esculenta was observed at all the sites. In the
Japanese cultivar group (Akame) that was late delta, the variety was grown mainly as a cash
maturing in general and had colored veins on the crop. At a mountainous site, Suoi Nhung, on the
lower surface of the leaf blade, colored petiole other hand, it was grown sometimes as a
(similar to that of the cultivar Khoai Van), and component of a mixed crop in the shifting
round cormels10,13)Pattern PM003 was found in cultivation system for local consumption. The
three Japanese cultivar groups that were relatively cultivars were genetically different between the
early maturing and one of the cultivar groups delta and the mountainous region. Genetically
had a dark purple petiole and round cormels close cultivars were found within each ecological
like the cultivar Khoai Trung10,13) area, but not in both areas, as shown by the
Five accessions of C. esculenta var. aquatilis results of the RFLP analysis in rDNA, which
showed four patterns (MM015 to MM018), may suggest differences in the genealogy of the
indicating that the accessions of the variety in species between the areas.
this study were genetically diverse. Morphological Xanthosoma spp. were found at all the sites,
diversity in the petiole colour of the variety which and there was a similarity in their use and
had been reported by NAKAO19) in Southeast Asia cultivation. They were genetically uniform too.
was not conspicuous in the present study. The seven accessions showed only one rDNA
There was no common rDNA pattern in pattern, MMx001, although the number of
both C. esculenta var. esculenta and in var. aquatilis plants examined was small. These facts may be
from Vietnam, and even no common band was attributed to the recent introduction into Asia
found between them. This finding suggested and rapid spread of Xanthosoma spp.
that var, esculenta had not been derived from var. Colocasia gigantea was not particularly
aquatilis in Vietnam. According to MATTHEWS et common, but was widely distributed. It was
al.15)and MATSUDA and NAWATA14), pattern PM008, usually consumed as a vegetable. Alocasia odora
which was obtained in the Vietnamese var. was used as a medicine at two sites. Alocasia
esculenta, was found in var. aquatilis from Australia macrorrhiza was observed only at one site in the
and var, esculenta from Taiwan and the Ryukyu mountainous region, and was used for pig fodder.
Islands, southern Japan. A large number of plant
Acknowledgements
samples of wild type taro, var. aquatilis, should
be surveyed for adequate discussion on the We thank the Vietnam Agricultural Science
domestication of C. esculenta. Institute, Hanoi, for their assistance in the field
research in Vietnam. The field research was
Conclusion
financially supported by the Kyoto University
Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta, C. esculenta Foundation.
var. aquatilis, C. gigantea, X sagittifolium, X
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