YamHub

Advancing yam research

International platform dedicated to advancing yam research and breeding based in Guadeloupe

About

Yams (Dioscorea spp.) are vital root and tuber crops that sustain over 500 million people worldwide, yet their genetic improvement has lagged behind cereals and other staples due to biological, agronomic, and logistical constraints. To overcome these challenges, the French Agricultural Research Centre (CIRAD) for International Development established YamHub, an international platform dedicated to advancing yam research and breeding. Based in Guadeloupe, YamHub integrates multi-omics, high-throughput phenotyping, and global collaboration, with strong partnerships across the world particularly in West Africa. The platform maintains a diverse germplasm collection, develops genomic and phenomic resources, and applies advanced phenotyping technologies and breeding tools. By bridging tropical and European research networks, YamHub serves as a collaborative hub driving innovation, technology transfer, and capacity building to deliver climate-resilient, high-quality yam varieties that strengthen food security and sustainable agriculture worldwide.

Location

2 Pedoclimatically contrasted sites for yam evaluation in Guadeloupe (Roujol and Godet).

Strategically located at CIRAD’s research station in Guadeloupe, YamHub uniquely combines tropical agro-ecological conditions, exceptional varietal diversity, advanced research infrastructure and international connectivity. As an overseas region of France and part of the European Union, Guadeloupe offers long-term institutional stability, competitive research funding, and seamless integration into European research networks, advantages rarely accessible in major yam-producing regions. This distinctive position allows YamHub to function as a bridge between Europe and the tropics, accelerating innovation, technology transfer, and training in partnership with African, Caribbean, and Pacific research systems.

Roujol (CIRAD station)

Soil typesrich andosols and ferralsols
Rainfall 2,000 to over 5,000 mm/year
Temperature24–28 °C
Main crop banana
SeasonalityDry season (January to May) and Wet season (June to December)

Godet (INRAE station)

Soil typescalcisols and vertisols
Rainfall ~1,000 to 1,500 mm/year
Temperature25–30 °C
Main crop sugarcane
SeasonalityDry season (December to May) and Wet season (June to November)

Germplasm Diversity panel

YamHub maintains a dynamic field collection of 250 accessions from 30 countries, representing seven major cultivated species. This diversity is a critical resource for studying plant biology and the genetic architecture of key traits. All these germplasms are also conserved in vitro.

Dioscorea alata 189
Dioscorea rotundata 30
Dioscorea esculenta 10
Dioscorea trifida 10
Dioscorea cayenensis 3
Dioscorea dumetorum 2
Dioscorea bulbifera 6

Mapping populations

YamHub has developed 10 bi-parental mapping populations, representing more than 1,200 hybrids. These populations are essential for QTL mapping, genetic analysis, and breeding program acceleration.

Phenotyping

NIRS-based high-throughput phenotyping
Eco-physiological equipments
Drone-based high-throughput phenotyping
Large database of phenotyping data
HPLC-metabolomics

Current Projects

Funded by FEDER EU

TAESA

TAESA: A Major European Project Supporting the Agroecological Transition in Guadeloupe region

Funded by ANR, France

EVOSEXYAM

Explores the genetic and evolutionary bases of sex determination and sex chromosome diversity in yams

Funded by EU HORIZON

ROTATES

European research and innovation project, led by CIRAD, that aims to boost agrobiodiversity and ecosystem services

Funded by INTERREG EU

CARIBIODIV

Strengthen innovation capacity across Caribbean agricultural and forestry research institutions

News

View More News

18 November, 2025

Category	Achievements	Future Goals
Germplasm & Collections	250 yam accessions conserved in Guadeloupe, representing 7 cultivated Dioscorea species and 30 countries Integration with nearby BRC-TP for access to unique global diversity, particularly American yam (D. trifida) 10 bi-parental populations (1,200 hybrids) 20 elite lines developed	Expand collection with underrepresented species and wild relatives Develop interspecific populations and initiate pre-breeding Develop more elite lines
Field Platforms & Phenotyping	Multi-site field evaluation in Guadeloupe (Roujol, Godet, network of 70+ yam growers) High-throughput drone phenotyping (RGB + multispectral) across the growth cycle NIRS phenotyping	Investigate tuber filling mechanisms (phloem organization & transport capacity) Study floral sex determination Develop large-scale temporal data analytics pipelines with AI models
Genomics Resources	Whole-genome resequencing of 250 accessions Male haplotype-resolved reference genome of D. alata Genome assemblies ongoing for 5 additional species Transcriptome atlas from 17 tissues of D. alata Genetic maps and SNP markers Databases: Yam Genome Hub Y2MD	Finalize species-wide pangenomes for D. alata and D. rotundata Develop a yam super-pangenome Integrate genomic and phenomic data into a unified platform
Trait Dissection & Prediction	GWAS and QTL mapping for phenology, yield, disease resistance, and tuber quality Cross-season prediction models using NIRS and genomic data	Multi-omics prediction combining NIRS, genomics, and UAV phenotyping Deployment of AI-driven models in yam breeding
Breeding & International Collaboration	Participatory breeding networks with partners in Africa and the Caribbean Active exchanges with universities and research institutes	Strengthen international breeding pipelines for climate-resilient and disease-resistant varieties Disseminate more elite lines Co-develop open-access training and capacity-building programs

Trainings

12

Phd
30

Msc
22

Bsc

Ongoing research topics

NIRS-based phenomic and genomic prediction in yams
Development of pipeline of drone-based yam phenotyping and phenomic prediction
Large-scale genome-wide association studies for key agronomic traits in yam
First genetic map of a tetraploid Dioscorea alata population
QTL mapping for phenological and yield-related traits in Dioscorea alata
Genomics and phenomics-driven breeding for yam performance and tuber quality is enhanced by farmers’ and consumers’ traditional knowledge
Pan-genome and super pangenome development of Dioscorea
Genetic diversity and evolution of Dioscorea alata
Genetic diversity of Togolese yam collection and establishment of breeding pipelines
Genome assembly and insight into sex determination and bulbil formation in Disocorea bulbifera
Enhancing the lesser yam (Dioscorea esculenta) through genomics assisted breeding
Genome assembly of Dioscorea cayenensis illuminates its complex architecture and probable parents
Improved genome assembly of Diosocorea dumetorum sheds lights on unique sex determination system
Flowering induction in yams
Sex chromosome evolution in yams
The American yam (Dioscorea trifida) genome sheds light on the molecular basis of its high sensitivity to viral infections