Research Progress and Prospect of Colocasia esculenta Germplasm Resources

As an important food and vegetable crop, taro(Colocasia esculenta)is one of the most widely distributed crops in the world. It is called the fifth largest root crop and has important therapeutic and medical value. In recent years, the development of taro industry plays an important role in promoting the agricultural developme nt of cities and counties and increasing farmers' income. More and more attention has been paid to the protection and utilization of taro resources. This paper reviews the origin and distribution of taro, the collection, preservation and classification of taro resources, the genetic diversity of taro resources, the innovation of taro resources and the breeding of new varieties, the research on taro diseases, and the utilization and efficacy of taro. The problems existing in the research of taro resources are analyzed and the prospect is put forward. It is pointed out that the planting area, yield and output value of taro have maintained an overall upward trend, As an important food and vegetable crop, taro(Colocasia esculenta)is one of the most widely distributed crops in the world. It is called the fifth largest root crop and has important therapeutic and medical value. In recent years, the development of taro industry plays an important role in promoting the agricultural developme nt of cities and counties and increasing farmers' income. More and more attention has been paid to the protection and utilization of taro resources. This paper reviews the origin and distribution of taro, the collection, preservation and classification of taro resources, the genetic diversity of taro resources, the innovation of taro resources and the breeding of new varieties, the research on taro diseases, and the utilization and efficacy of taro. The problems existing in the research of taro resources are analyzed and the prospect is put forward. It is pointed out that the planting area, yield and output value of taro have maintained an overall upward trend,