Effects of flower bud pruning on jicama production in the Caribbean

Jicama (Pachyrrhizas erosus), also known as yam bean, is a vigorous herbaceous vining legume producing a white crunchy tuberous root.
The objective of this study was to determine the influence of flower pruning on jicama tuberous root development over time.
Seeds of six cultivars were obtained from multiple sources on Amazon and one from the USDA germplasm repository.
Jicama was established by direct seeding in a staggered 26.5-m long, 0.3 m wide double-row beds with trellis and drip irrigation.
Half the plants had their flowers removed weekly.
Harvests were conducted at 70, 84, 100, 120, 150 and 180 days for both treatments.
Data were collected on tuberous root weight and diameter.
At 70 days, differences in size of tuberous roots between flowering and those that had their flower buds removed were observed.
Marketable tuberous roots were obtained in 120 days from those that underwent flower pruning.
However, 180 days was required for flowering plants to obtain a marketable tuber size.
Removing the flower buds from jicama plants could be used to increase land use efficiency and significantly reduce time to harvest.

V All Africa Horticultural Congress – AAHC2024

S.S. Joseph, T.W. Zimmerman

tuberous root, Pachyrrhizas erosus, yam bean, agroecological intensification

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1422.19