Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is an important tuber crop with tremendous potential as a functional food in the tropics and subtropics. However, the crop has not shown progressive productivity gain over decades due to various production constraints. This paper reviews the progress achieved in empirical breeding endeavours and the development, status and application of emerging breeding tools and technologies to translate genetic gains in yam improvement. Significant progress has been made in yam genetic improvement over the years which has led to the identification and development of several improved clones and sources of variability for various economically important traits. Substantial efforts have also been made to develop diverse molecular markers, transcriptome and metabolome profiles of crucial traits, trait mapping and generate reference genome sequences of the key species. However, there seems to be a slow translation of research improvements into widespread applications. These advances and the integration of empirical and emerging methods and technologies into the breeding process will enhance yam breeding efforts and ensure the quick delivery of improved varieties that possess superior agronomic and quality traits.

中文翻译：

---

审查山药改良的经验和新兴育种方法和工具：现状和前景

山药（薯osspp。）是一种重要的块茎作物，在热带和亚热带地区作为功能性食品具有巨大的潜力。然而，由于各种生产限制，该作物数十年来未显示出逐步的生产率提高。本文回顾了实证育种工作取得的进展，以及新兴育种工具和技术的发展，现状和应用，以将遗传增益转化为山药的改良。多年以来，山药遗传改良已取得重大进展，这导致鉴定和开发了几种改良的无性系以及各种经济重要性状的变异性来源。还做出了巨大努力来开发关键性状的多种分子标记，转录组和代谢组谱，性状作图并生成关键物种的参考基因组序列。但是，研究进展似乎很难转化为广泛的应用。这些进步以及将经验和新兴方法与技术整合到育种过程中，将加强山药育种工作，并确保快速交付具有优良农艺和品质特性的改良品种。