Answer: Edible Tuber
Notes: Researchers from Kerala discovered a new edible tuber named Dioscorea balakrishnanii in Wayanad district of Kerala. It belongs to the genus Dioscorea and is locally called ‘chola kizhangu’ by the Kattunayikar tribes. The tuber is edible when cooked and has excellent flavour. It is found only in the sholas of evergreen forests in the Western Ghats. Wayanad has 23 forms of more than 14 Dioscorea species, relatives of cultivated yam like kachil/kavat. The tuber has low glycemic index and potential for food security and medicinal use. Discovery highlights the importance of conserving unique ecosystems and wild relatives of crops.
