{"id":3070,"date":"2016-12-08T15:34:49","date_gmt":"2016-12-08T23:34:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=3070"},"modified":"2022-04-29T15:31:01","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T22:31:01","slug":"coco-yam-elephant-ear-or-taro-colocasia-esculenta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=3070","title":{"rendered":"Coco-Yam, Elephant Ear or Taro | Colocasia esculenta"},"content":{"rendered":"
California Pest Rating for<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\u00a0<\/strong>Colocasia esculenta<\/em><\/strong> : Coco-Yam, Elephant Ear or Taro \u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Family:\u00a0Araceae<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n
Pest Rating: D \u00a0| \u00a0 Proposed\u00a0<\/strong>Seed Rating: N\/A<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\n
PEST RATING PROFILE<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Initiating Event:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

This plant has been rated as \u201cQ\u201d on the CDFA Plant Pest Rating since 2015.<\/p>\n

History & Status:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Background<\/u><\/strong>: Colocasia esculenta<\/em>\u00a0is a tropical plant grown primarily for its edible\u00a0corms. It is cultivated as a vegetable\u00a0most commonly known as\u00a0taro,Gabi and Abi or Avi. There are dozens of other common names used in other parts of the world including culcas from which the genus name Colocasia<\/em> is derived; the descriptive anatomical name,\u00a0elephant ear, eddo, imo, dasheen, coco-yam and malombo. It is believed to be one of the earliest cultivated plants2<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Plants have been in cultivation for over 2,800 years as a\u00a0food crop\u00a0in equatorial regions including India, China, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Polynesia, the Mediterranean, Africa, and South America. All parts of the plant are edible if they are thoroughly steamed or boiled to first remove calcium oxalate crystals.The cooked leaves are used in Hawaiian luaus and the corms are mashed into poi1<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

It was grown in Africa and was first brought to the Americas as a food crop for slaves. In 1910, Colocasia esculenta<\/em>\u00a0was promoted as an alternative crop to potatoes by the USDA5<\/sup>. There are more than 200 cultivars of taro, selected for their edible corms or cormels, or their tropical looking ornamental foliage2<\/sup>. It is cultivated commercially on a small scale in the Central valley and Sacramento valley of California6<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Official Control<\/strong><\/span>:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0None at this time in California.<\/p>\n

California Distribution<\/strong><\/span>: Colocasia esculenta<\/em>\u00a0is a perennial herb that is not native to California. It has been reported in the Delta in Sacramento, San Joaquin and Solano Counties. It also been found in Southern CA in Orange County3<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

California Interceptions<\/strong><\/span>: Colocasia esculenta<\/em> is occasionally sold in nurseries in CA. It is consumed as a vegetable in California and sold state-wide in produce markets.<\/p>\n

United States<\/span>: <\/strong>Colocasia esculenta <\/em>is wide spread in the southeastern United States4<\/sup>. It is a most important source of food in the Hawaiian Islands.<\/p>\n

\"Coco-Yam-US-Map\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Worldwide Distribution<\/span>:<\/strong> Colocasia esculenta<\/em> is an ancient crop grown throughout the tropic and sub-tropics. Because Colocasia<\/em> esculenta<\/em> has been in cultivation for so long, no one knows\u00a0 where it truly is native, but all evidence points to Southeast Asia. It is viewed as invasive in FL, HW, PR, Queensland, Cuba, Costa Rica and many of the Pacific Islands.<\/p>\n

Consequences of Introduction:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n

1) Climate\/Host Interaction:<\/strong> Risk is\u00a0Medium (2)<\/strong><\/span>, as Colocasia esculenta<\/em> is naturalized in the marshy and watershed areas throughout southeastern America and is spreading there. It is established in one area of the Delta in California.<\/p>\n

Evaluate if the pest would have suitable hosts and climate to establish in California:<\/p>\n

Score: 2<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Low (1) not likely to establish in California; or likely to establish in very limited areas<\/p>\n

Medium (2) may be able to establish in a larger but limited part of California<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

High (3) likely to establish a widespread distribution in California<\/p>\n

2) Pest Host Range: <\/strong>Risk is High (3)<\/strong><\/span> as weeds do not require any one host, but grow wherever ecological conditions are favorable.<\/p>\n

Evaluate the host range of the pest:<\/p>\n

Low (1) has a very limited host range<\/p>\n

Medium (2) has a moderate host range<\/p>\n

High (3) has a wide host range<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3) Pest Dispersal Potential: <\/strong>Risk is Medium (2)<\/strong> <\/span>as the plant \u00a0spreads vegetatively through rhizomes, stolons, offshoot corms or vegetative fragments.It does not seem to produce seed in CA.<\/p>\n

Evaluate the dispersal potential of the pest:<\/p>\n

Low (1) does not have high reproductive or dispersal potential<\/p>\n

Medium (2) has either high reproductive or dispersal potential<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

High (3) has both high reproduction and dispersal potential<\/p>\n

4) Economic Impact<\/strong>: <\/strong>Risk is Medium (2)<\/strong><\/span> as Colocasia produces 2.5′ wide by 3.5′ long leaves with up to 30″ tall patch that could lower the crop yield due to shading and changes in the cultural practices where it is established.<\/p>\n

Evaluate the economic impact of the pest to California using these criteria:<\/p>\n

Economic Impact: \u00a0A, D<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A. The pest could lower crop yield<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

B. The pest could lower crop value (includes increasing crop production costs)<\/p>\n

C. The pest could trigger the loss of markets (includes quarantines by other states or countries)<\/p>\n

D. The pest could negatively change normal production cultural practices<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Economic Impact Score: 2<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Low (1) causes 0 or 1 of these impacts<\/p>\n

Medium (2) causes 2 of these impacts<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

High (3) causes 3 or more of these impacts<\/p>\n

5) Environmental Impact: <\/strong>Risk is High (3)<\/strong><\/span> as it invades wetland edges, swamps, blackwater streams, lakes and disrupt natural wetland communities of California. It is established in a state park where it forms a dense thicket at the wetland interface; this will encourage treatment for control. If it spreads, it could affect populations of sensitive species such as Mason’s lilaeopsis (Lilaeopsis masonii<\/em>), CA Clapper rail\u00a0(Rallus obsoletus<\/em>), Suisun aster (Symphyotrichum<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>lentum<\/em>)\u00a0and Delta tula pea\u00a0(Lathyrus jepsonii<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Evaluate the environmental impact of the pest on California using the following criteria:<\/p>\n

Economic Impact: A, C, D<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A. The pest could have a significant environmental impact such as lowering biodiversity, disrupting natural communities, or changing ecosystem processes<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

B. The pest could directly affect threatened or endangered species<\/p>\n

C. The pest could impact threatened or endangered species by disrupting critical habitats<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

D. The pest could trigger additional official or private treatment programs<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

E. Significantly impacting cultural practices, home\/urban gardening or ornamental plantings.<\/p>\n

Score the pest for Environmental Impact:<\/p>\n

Low (1) causes none of the above to occur<\/p>\n

Medium (2) causes one of the above to occur<\/p>\n

High (3) causes two or more of the above to occur<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Consequences of Introduction to California for <\/strong>Colocasia esculenta<\/em><\/strong> :<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Rating (Score): <\/strong>Add up the total score and include it here:<\/p>\n

Low<\/strong> = 5-8 points<\/p>\n

Medium = 9-12 points<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

High<\/strong> = 13-15 points<\/p>\n

Total points based on above criteria, which does not take into account the pathogen\u2019s already wide distribution in California: Medium (12)<\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

6) Post Entry Distribution and Survey Information: \u00a0<\/strong>Evaluate the known distribution in California. Only official records identified by a taxonomic expert and supported by voucher specimens deposited in natural history collections should be considered. Pest incursions that have been eradicated, are under eradication, or have been delimited with no further detections should not be included:<\/p>\n

Score: Low (\u20131)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

-Not established (0) Pest never detected in California, or known only from incursions.<\/p>\n

-Low (-1) Pest has a localized distribution in California, or is established in one suitable climate\/host area (region).<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

-Medium (-2) Pest is widespread in California but not fully established in the endangered area, or pest established in two contiguous suitable climate\/host areas.<\/p>\n

-High (-3) Pest has fully established in the endangered area, or pest is reported in more than two contiguous or non-contiguous suitable climate\/host areas.<\/p>\n

Final Score:<\/h5>\n

The final score is<\/strong> the consequences of introduction score minus the post entry distribution and survey information score: (11)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Uncertainty:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

This plant has been known in Southeastern America for over 100 years and spreading colonies have been detected.So, there is low uncertainty that it will continue to spread in wetlands of California.<\/p>\n

Conclusion and Rating Justification:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Proposed Rating: based on the score listed above, the pest is Medium risk for further invasions of California. It has a potential\u00a0 to invade the wet areas of California, and it is already reported in 4 counties. Nevertheless, as Colocasia esculenta<\/em> is an agricultural commodity in California, a \u201cD\u201d rating is justified.<\/p>\n

\n
References:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Avent Tony and Carey Dennis, (2016). Cool Colocasias; Plant Delights Nursery, Inc. Accessed\u00a0 11-15-2016.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.plantdelights.com\/Article\/Colocasia-Elephant-Ears<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Colocasia esculenta<\/em>, Encyclopedia of Life.Eol community website .<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    http:\/\/www.eol.org\/pages\/1091931\/overview<\/a><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation,\u00a0with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals, including the\u00a0Consortium of California Herbaria.\u00a0 2016. Berkeley, California. Accessed 11-15-2016.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      http:\/\/www.calflora.org\/cgi-bin\/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=13042<\/a><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Federal database with information on identification and distribution, and links to websites in individual states. Accessed 11-15-2016.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        http:\/\/plants.usda.gov\/core\/profile?symbol=COES<\/a><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Swearingen, J., C. Bargeron. 2016 Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          http:\/\/www.invasiveplantatlas.org\/subject.html?sub=5369<\/a><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Taro root (colocasia esculenta<\/em>) reported Naturalizing in ca;ifornia by CA State Parks.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            http:\/\/www.cal-ipc.org\/symposia\/archive\/pdf\/2014\/Poster2014_Robison.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

            \n
            Responsible Party:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

            Javaid Iqbal, \u00a0California Department of Food and Agriculture; 1220 N Street,\u00a0Sacramento, CA 95814; Tel. (916) 403-6695; plant.health[@]cdfa.ca.gov.<\/p>\n

            Comment Format:<\/h5>\n

            \u2666 \u00a0Comments should refer to the appropriate California Pest Rating Proposal Form subsection(s)\u00a0being commented on, as shown below.<\/p>\n

            Example Comment:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Consequences of Introduction: \u00a01. Climate\/Host Interaction:\u00a0[Your comment that relates to \u201cClimate\/Host Interaction\u201d here.<\/em>]<\/p>\n

            \u2666 \u00a0Posted comments will not be able to be viewed immediately.<\/p>\n

            \u2666 \u00a0Comments may not be posted if they:<\/p>\n

            Contain inappropriate language which is not germane to\u00a0the pest rating proposal;<\/p>\n

            Contains defamatory, false, inaccurate, abusive, obscene, pornographic,\u00a0sexually oriented, threatening, racially offensive, discriminatory or illegal\u00a0material;<\/p>\n

            Violates agency regulations prohibiting sexual harassment or other forms\u00a0of discrimination;<\/p>\n

            Violates agency regulations prohibiting workplace violence, including threats.<\/p>\n

            \u2666 \u00a0Comments may be edited prior to posting to ensure they are entirely germane.<\/p>\n

            \u2666 \u00a0Posted comments shall be those which have been approved in content and posted to the\u00a0website to be viewed, not just submitted.<\/p>\n

            \n

            Pest Rating: D \u00a0| \u00a0 Proposed\u00a0<\/strong>Seed Rating: N\/A<\/strong><\/h3>\n
            \n

            Posted by ls<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            California Pest Rating for \u00a0Colocasia esculenta : Coco-Yam, Elephant Ear or Taro \u00a0 Family:\u00a0Araceae Pest Rating: D \u00a0| \u00a0 Proposed\u00a0Seed Rating: N\/A PEST RATING PROFILE Initiating Event: This plant has been rated as \u201cQ\u201d on the CDFA Plant Pest Rating since 2015. History & Status: Background: Colocasia esculenta\u00a0is a tropical plant grown primarily for its … Continue reading Coco-Yam, Elephant Ear or Taro | Colocasia esculenta<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":129,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7],"tags":[475,474,476,477,85],"class_list":["post-3070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-plants","tag-coco-yam","tag-colocasia-esculenta","tag-elephant-ear","tag-taro","tag-weeds"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5l8vQ-Nw","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1463,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=1463","url_meta":{"origin":3070,"position":0},"title":"Tarophagus colocasiae (Matsumura) | Taro Planthopper","author":"Jason Leathers","date":"January 15, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"California Pest Rating for Tarophagus colocasiae (Matsumura): Taro Planthopper Hemiptera: Delphacidae Pest Rating: \u00a0B PEST RATING PROFILE Initiating Event: \u00a0 Tarophagus colocasiae is commonly intercepted by California\u2019s high risk programs.\u00a0 This planthopper is currently assigned a temporary rating of \u201cQ\u201d and is therefore in need of a permanent pest rating.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hemiptera"","block_context":{"text":"Hemiptera","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?cat=18"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1958,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=1958","url_meta":{"origin":3070,"position":1},"title":"Weeds","author":"Admin","date":"May 13, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Weeds are simply an unwanted plant in the wrong place, at the right time.\u00a0 The weeds can directly and indirectly impact agricultural crops and are just as costly to the environment as any other unwanted species. Weeds are simply an unwanted plant in the wrong place, at the right\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ratings"","block_context":{"text":"Ratings","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?cat=333"},"img":{"alt_text":"Weeds montage","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/weeds-featured-image1.jpg?fit=1038%2C588&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/weeds-featured-image1.jpg?fit=1038%2C588&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/weeds-featured-image1.jpg?fit=1038%2C588&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/weeds-featured-image1.jpg?fit=1038%2C588&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4271,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=4271","url_meta":{"origin":3070,"position":2},"title":"Ustilago esculenta","author":"Admin","date":"December 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"California Pest Rating for Ustilago esculenta Henn. 1895 PEST RATING: A PEST RISK PROFILE Initiating Event: \u00a0\u00a0 On October 19 and 20, 2017, Manchurian wild rice plants with slightly swollen lower stems, were collected by Riverside County Agricultural officials, from a private company, in Riverside County and sent to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fungi"","block_context":{"text":"Fungi","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?cat=8"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1720,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=1720","url_meta":{"origin":3070,"position":3},"title":"Planococcus minor (Maskell): Pacific Mealybug","author":"Jason Leathers","date":"March 9, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"California Pest Rating for Planococcus minor (Maskell): Pacific Mealybug Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae Pest Rating: A PEST RATING PROFILE Initiating Event: Planococcus minor is frequently intercepted by CDFA and is presently assigned a temporary rating of \u201cQ\u201d.\u00a0 A pest rating proposal is required to assign a permanent pest rating. History & Status:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hemiptera"","block_context":{"text":"Hemiptera","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?cat=18"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3155,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=3155","url_meta":{"origin":3070,"position":4},"title":"Araecerus fasciculatus: Coffee bean weevil","author":"Javaid Iqbal","date":"January 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"California Pest Rating for Araecerus fasciculatus: Coffee bean weevil Coleoptera: Anthribidae Pest Rating: B PEST RATING PROFILE Initiating Event: Araecerus fasciculatus has a current CDFA rating of B or Q. A pest rating proposal is required to assign a permanent rating. History & Status: Background: Araecerus fasciculatus is a small\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Coleoptera"","block_context":{"text":"Coleoptera","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?cat=15"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4338,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?p=4338","url_meta":{"origin":3070,"position":5},"title":"Manchurian Wild Rice | Zizania latifolia","author":"Dean Kelch","date":"January 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"California Pest Rating\u00a0 for Manchurian Wild Rice |\u00a0Zizania latifolia Pest Rating: A |\u00a0Proposed Seed Rating: R PEST RATING PROFILE Initiating Event: This plant was been detected in California in 2017. History & Status: Zizania latifolia is a large perennial grass growing to 3.5 m.\u00a0 It is hardy in warm temperate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Weeds"","block_context":{"text":"Weeds","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"Machurian Wild Rice. Photo credit: National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA), New Zealand","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/MachurianWildRice_PhotoBy-NationalInstitute-of-WaterAtmosphericResearch-300x203.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/129"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3070"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10178,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3070\/revisions\/10178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/Section3162\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}