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How to Identify and Classify Yams - Test
Contributed by: Woolley
  • 1. What is the primary difference between yams and sweet potatoes?
A) Yams are always sweeter than sweet potatoes.
B) Yams are monocots, sweet potatoes are dicots.
C) Yams are grown in America, sweet potatoes are not.
D) Yams are orange, sweet potatoes are white.
  • 2. True yams belong to which plant family?
A) Dioscoreaceae
B) Convolvulaceae
C) Solanaceae
D) Fabaceae
  • 3. Which characteristic is NOT typically used to identify yam species?
A) Tuber shape
B) Flower color
C) Stem morphology
D) Leaf venation
  • 4. Which continent is the origin of most yam species?
A) South America
B) North America
C) Asia
D) Africa
  • 5. What is the function of the nodes on a yam vine?
A) To attract pollinators
B) To defend against predators
C) To absorb water from the air
D) To produce leaves and aerial tubers
  • 6. What term describes the arrangement of leaves on a yam vine?
A) Whorled
B) Parallel
C) Linear
D) Alternate or opposite
  • 7. What is a 'head' when referring to yams?
A) The flowering part of the yam plant.
B) The protective skin of the tuber.
C) The root hairs on the tuber.
D) The top portion of the tuber where vines grow.
  • 8. Which yam species is known for its medicinal properties and bitter taste?
A) Dioscorea villosa (Wild yam)
B) Dioscorea rotundata (White yam)
C) Dioscorea alata (Water yam)
D) Dioscorea esculenta (Lesser yam)
  • 9. What is the common name for Dioscorea alata?
A) Chinese yam
B) Air potato
C) Water yam
D) White yam
  • 10. How are yams typically propagated?
A) By planting tuber pieces
B) By leaf cuttings
C) By seeds
D) By grafting
  • 11. What does the term 'dormancy' refer to in yam cultivation?
A) A period of inactivity in the tuber
B) Susceptibility to disease
C) Flowering season
D) Rapid vine growth
  • 12. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of yam tubers?
A) Potential for toxicity in some species
B) Variable size and shape
C) Uniform color across all species
D) Starchy texture
  • 13. What is the significance of 'aerial tubers' or bulbils in some yam species?
A) They are the primary source of food storage.
B) They indicate the yam is ready to harvest.
C) They serve as a form of vegetative propagation.
D) They are a sign of disease.
  • 14. Which yam species is also known as the 'Chinese yam'?
A) Dioscorea polystachya
B) Dioscorea bulbifera
C) Dioscorea trifida
D) Dioscorea cayenensis
  • 15. What type of climate is most suitable for yam cultivation?
A) Desert
B) Tropical and subtropical
C) Arctic
D) Temperate
  • 16. What is the primary use of yams globally?
A) As animal feed
B) As a staple food crop
C) For medicinal purposes only
D) For ornamental purposes
  • 17. Which of these characteristics helps distinguish Dioscorea rotundata from other yams?
A) Purple skin and round shape
B) White flesh and cylindrical shape
C) Extremely bitter taste
D) Hairy vines and small tubers
  • 18. What is 'dioscorine'?
A) A toxic alkaloid found in some yam species.
B) A type of starch found in yams.
C) A natural pesticide produced by yams.
D) A growth hormone in yams.
  • 19. What is the best soil type for growing yams?
A) Heavy clay soil
B) Sandy, infertile soil
C) Well-drained, fertile loam
D) Waterlogged soil
  • 20. Which of these pests is a common problem in yam cultivation?
A) Caterpillars
B) Aphids
C) Yam beetles
D) Grasshoppers
  • 21. What is a key indicator of yam maturity for harvesting?
A) Sudden increase in tuber size
B) Drying of the vines
C) Flowering of the plant
D) Appearance of aerial tubers
  • 22. What does 'Dioscorea' refer to?
A) A type of fertilizer used for yams
B) A yam harvesting technique
C) The genus of true yams
D) A disease that affects yams
  • 23. What is a common method for reducing toxicity in wild yams before consumption?
A) Refrigeration
B) Sun drying
C) Fermentation
D) Prolonged boiling
  • 24. Which of the following is a characteristic of Dioscorea esculenta (Lesser yam)?
A) Extremely hairy vines.
B) Highly bitter taste.
C) Smaller tubers often produced in clusters.
D) Very large, single tubers.
  • 25. What is the 'Air Potato' (Dioscorea bulbifera) primarily propagated by?
A) Underground tubers
B) Aerial tubers (bulbils)
C) Seeds
D) Root cuttings
  • 26. In yam classification, what does 'morphology' refer to?
A) The physical form and structure of the plant.
B) The genetic makeup of the plant.
C) The taste of the tuber.
D) The growing season length.
  • 27. Which of the following is a significant disease affecting yam crops?
A) Citrus canker
B) Wheat rust
C) Yam mosaic virus
D) Potato blight
  • 28. Which yam species is known to have a high dry matter content?
A) Dioscorea bulbifera (Air potato)
B) Dioscorea trifida (Cush-cush yam)
C) Dioscorea alata (Water yam)
D) Dioscorea rotundata (White yam)
  • 29. What is a common post-harvest practice for yams?
A) Canning
B) Freezing
C) Curing
D) Fermenting
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