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Federal Noxious Weed TDA Noxious Weed TPWD Prohibited Exotic Species 
Invasive Plant Atlas of the USNOTE:
means species is on that list.
Dioscorea bulbifera
Air potato
Synonym(s):
Family: Dioscoreaceae (Yam Family)
Duration and Habit: Perennial Vine
Photographer: USDA APHIS Archives
Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Bugwood.org
Description
Herbaceous, high climbing vines to 65 feet (20 m) long, infestations covering shrubs and trees. Twining and sprawling stems with long-petioled heart-shaped leaves. Spreading by dangling potato-like tubers (bulbils) at leaf axils and underground tubers. Monocots.
A distinguishing characteristic of air potato is that all leaf veins arise from the leaf base, unlike other herbaceous vines such as smilax and morning glories. Flowers are inconspicuous, arising from leaf axils in panicles 4 inches long, and are fairly uncommon in Florida. Vegetative reproduction is the primary mechanism of spread. This is through the formation of aerial tubers, or bulbils, which are formed in leaf axils. These vary in roundish shapes and sizes. In addition, large tubers are formed underground, some reaching over 6 inches in diameter.
Native Lookalikes: Air Potato resembles the native wild yam Dioscorea villosa which is in the same genus as the invasive vine. The main difference between the two species is that the wild yam never produces the potato-like bubils and its leaf petioles never clasp stems.
Credit: Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
native wild yam (Dioscorea villosa)
Credit: Rebekah D. Wallace, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
native wild yam ()
Ecological Threat: Air potato can grow extremely quickly, roughly 8 inches per day. It typically climbs to the tops of trees and has a tendency to take over native plants. The aerial stems of air potato die back in winter, but resprouting occurs from bulbils and underground tubers.
Biology & Spread: New plants develop from bulbils that form on the plant, and these bulbils serve as a means of dispersal. The primary means of spread and reproduction are via bulbils. The smallest bulbils make control of air potato difficult due to their ability to sprout at a very small stage.
History: A native to tropical Asia, air potato, Dioscorea bulbifera, was first introduced to the Americas from Africa. In 1905 it was introduced to Florida. Due to its ability to displace native species and disrupt natural processes such as fire and water flow, air potato has been listed as one of the most invasive plant species in Florida since 1993, and was placed on the Florida Noxious Weed List by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in 1999.
U.S. Habitat: Rapid growing and occurring on open to semishady sites: extending from Florida to adjacent states. All dying back during winter but able to cover small trees in a year, with old vines providing trellises for regrowth. Spread and persist by underground tubers and abundant production of aerial potato-like bubils, which drop and form new plants and can spread by water.
Distribution
U.S. Nativity: Introduced to U.S.
Native Origin: Tropical and warm temp. eastern Asia
U.S. Present: FL, HI, LA, MS, PR, TX
Distribution in Texas: Forest edges, and many disturbed areas throughout rural and urban habtiats.
Mapping
Invaders of Texas Map: Dioscorea bulbifera
EDDMapS: Dioscorea bulbifera
USDA Plants Texas County Map: Dioscorea bulbifera
Invaders of Texas Observations
List All Observations of Dioscorea bulbifera reported by Citizen Scientists
Native Alternatives
Air Potato resembles the native wild yam Dioscorea villosa which is in the same genus as the invasive vine. The main difference between the two species is that the wild yam never produces the potato-like bubils and its leaf petioles never clasp stems.
Management
Persistence and integration of control methods will be the key to complete air potato management.
Preventative- Prevention is a key step in the management of air potato. Bulbils are the primary mechanism of spread, and research has shown even minutely small propagules can sprout and form new plants. How these bulbils are spread is speculative, but it appears movement of contaminated brush, debris or soil is the primary mechanism. Mowers and other brush-cutting equipment may also disperse long distances, either through contaminated equipment or throwing of the bulbils during the mowing operation. Spread via birds and other animals may occur, but this has not been confirmed. Water is also a major means of dispersal, so care must be taken to first eliminate populations along water bodies where bulbils may be easily spread. In addition, extra time must be utilized after flood events, as spread may be extensive.
Mechanical- Mechanical methods are limited for air potato, as control of the vines generally results in damage to the vegetation being climbed/smothered by the air potato. It is recommended to cut or pull down the vines, seal them in black trash bags, and leave the debris out to cook/desiccate in the sun. Remove as many bulbils as possible since those left behind will produce new vines.
Burning the vine material after it has been cut/removed is an additional option if local restrictions permit it. Bulbils need to be burnt thoroughly and/or burnt debris should be disposed of in black trash bags and disposed of. Bulbils can also be killed by storing them in a freezer for 12hrs, or until frozen solid.
Biological- A decade-long collaborative effort between the FDACS Division of Plant Industry (FDACS-DPI), the U.S. Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), and the University of Florida- Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) determined the Chrysomelidae beetle Lilioceris cheni to be a successful bio control for Air Potato.
Release and establishment of L. cheni in Florida have resulted in a massive reduction in vine biomass, bulbil production and spread of the vine; making it a major success in the field of biological control. Thanks to the active efforts of the The Woodlands Invasive Species Task Force, the beetle was brought to Texas in 2021 and has shown success in reducing the growth of the vine. Reduction in repeated beetle releases suggests populations may be establishing.
Chemical- Can be one of the most effective means of control for air potato, but usually a single application will not provide complete control; mainly because of resprouting of bulbils or underground tubers. A dilution of triclopyr (Garlon 3A at 1 to 2% solution or Garlon 4 at 0.5 to 2% solution) in water can be an effective control for air potato when applied as a foliar application. Be sure to include a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% (10 mls or 2 teaspoons per gallon of spray solution). A 2 to 3% solution of glyphosate (Roundup, etc.) can also be effective. These herbicides are systemic (move throughout plant tissue) so care must be exercised to minimize off-target damage. If air potato vines are growing up into trees or other desirable species, vines should be cut or pulled down to minimize damage to the desirable vegetation. Pulling the vines down without severing them from the underground tuber will allow the herbicide to move into the tuber and provide better control. The best time to apply an herbicide is in the spring and summer when air potato is actively growing. Be sure to allow adequate time for the plant to regrow from the winter to ensure movement of the herbicide back into the underground tuber. (As plants grow and mature, they begin to move sugars back into the roots and below-ground tubers). However, treat before the plants begin to form new bulbils.
Text References
Bailey, L.H. and E.Z. Bailey. 1977. Hortus Third: A Concise Dictionary of Plants Cultivated in the United States and Canada, MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., New York.
MacDonald, G., B. Sellers, K. Langeland, T.Duperron, and E. Ketterer. 2008. Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida. Accessed 21 November 2008: http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/node/133.
Miller, J.H. 2003. Nonnative invasive plants of southern forests: a field guide for identification and control. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-62. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 93 pp (USDA SRS).
Online Resources
https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Pests-and-Diseases/Plant-Pests-and-Diseases/Biological-Control/Air-Potato-Vine-Biological-Control
Search Online
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USDA Plants: Dioscorea bulbifera
Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States: Dioscorea bulbifera
Bugwood Network Images: Dioscorea bulbifera
