A Documentation on Dioscorea spp. (A neglected Wild tuber) with Special Reference to its Domestication and Seasonal Food Security to the Indigenous Forest Dwellers in Tripura, India

Wild Dioscorea (Yams) are such type of tuber crop that may be considered as a potential alternative source offering the food security to the indigenous forest dwellers of Tripura, India. This wild tuber crop is one of the major food sources among different tribal communities of Tripura. Till date, total ten Dioscorea species have been reported from the state. Among them, eight species are directly exploiting from wild, whereas only two species are found in the home garden of tribal as well as non-tribal dwellers in the state. Six species such as D. alata, D. glabra D. hamiltonii, D. oppositifolia, D. pubera and D. esculanta var. spinosa are consumed as a vegetable by the majority of the communities. The people of all communities keep away themselves from the tuber of D. hispida and D. bulbifera var. bulbifera as vegetable due to its bitter and toxic nature. The most preferred and valuable edibles species are D. alata and D. hamiltonii. Dioscorea species which also play an important role in their daily health care system. Dioscorea tuber contains noticeable nutrition content, easy propagation methods, attractive therapeutic properties, and long-term storage capacity.