Résumé
Aroids are an economically important source of food for numerous tropical countries. They are mostly consumed for their corms and cormels but leaves and petioles can also be part of the diet. According to FAO databases (www.fao.org 2007) taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) and cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott) produce the lowest average yields (6.5 tons/ha) of all root crops. World production in 2006 was approximately 11.9 million fresh tons from 1.8 million hectares but significant taro producers such as India, Bangladesh, Burma, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Cuba do not supply production figures. Since taro production was around 4 million tons in 1961, its cultivation is stable or even growing and follows the global trend of demographic growth. Aroids are considered minor crops but they are a staple food for numerous poor populations from tropical countries.