Varietal dynamics in yam producers from Guadeloupe: cultivation trajectories for two commonly grown cutivars

Loss of agrodiversity mediated by varietal legacy is an important concern, translating as crop species being at risk for genetic erosion, while loss of genetic resources may deplete material available for future breeding strategies. We explored varietal dynamics in the Guadeloupean agricultural yam system. Interviewing farmers about the varieties cultivated in the past compared to their current varieties demonstrated that no dramatic loss of varieties occurred in the two to three latest decades, and changes in variety frequency mostly affected former widespread varieties while frequency of uncommon varieties demonstrated some stability in cultivation frequency. Varietal dynamics nevertheless reflected strong sub-regional trends, and socio-economic impacts such as age of producers or farm levels of crop diversity