“Uraro” a popular biscuit in Laguna is made from pure arrow-

root flour. Its flour being highly digestible and able to prevent
curdling is used mainly for invalid’s and infant’s milk food.

It is also an excellent ingredient for thickening ice cream.

The rhizomes are good rice substitute or extender. The tuberous
root can be eaten when boiled or roasted before they become
fibrous, and taste similar if not superior to corn.
Arrowroot is also an effective substitute for corn in
broiler ration. Other plant parts are excellent roughage and silage
for animals. The fibrous materials remain after the extraction of
starch can also used as cattle feed.
Arrowroot starch also possesses demulcent properties
and some times used in the treatment of diseases of the intestine.
Powdered rhizomes may be used as poultice for wound and ul-
cers.
Plant leaves are occasionally used as packing materials,
while the pulp is used in the manufacture of paper, cardboard,
cushions and wallboard.

References: Produced by:

AgriScope: Agribusiness Opportunity Department of Agriculture- MiMaRoPa Region

Estrella, David Agriculture and Industry Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS)
Gonzaga, Cecilla Arrowroot Plant Industry Guide 3/Flr., ATI Building, Elliptical Road
Candeleria, Cecilla Arrowroot Root crops Research Diliman, Quezon City
Tel. no.: 920-20-44
Email address: [email protected]
Facebook page:DA MIMAROPA RAFIS
INTRODUCTION Planting – Arrowroot can be propagated by suckers and root- times discontinuous, eccentric zones. Aerial mycelium quickly
Arrowroot Marantha arundinacea or “Uraro” is widely stock or rhizomes with two or more nodes each. Two suckers covers both leaf surfaces and basidia and basidiosphores are pro-
cultivated in the Philippines for its starchy rhizomes. It is a low may be planted to a hill at a distance of 1.0 x 0.75 meters. duce in the scant, whitish superficia growth. Affected leaves be-
perennial herbaceous plant with thick, fleshy and creeping roots Under poor soil condition, the hills should set closer about 0.75 come completely necrotic and are rotten by a secondary organ-
and long white fibers and is a good source of flour. x 0.30 meters apart. ism. The disease is caused by Thanatiphous cucumesis Frank,
Arrowroot flour has a very high commercial value in the an infectious fungus that infected leaves of several plants that
international market because it is best ingredients in making high Irrigation – No irrigation needed provided there is include rice, corn, sugarcane and even citrus. It is reported trou-
quality biscuits and cookies. enough moisture in the soil especially at the early stage of blesome during periods of high rainfall.
growth. Control Measure: Foliar spraying (both leaf surface)
prior to the onset of high rainfall season with Zineb, Maneb, or
VARIETAL STRAIN Fertilization – The crop responds well to fertilization. In cooper fungicide using the rate recommended by the manufac-
There is no distinct variety of arrowroot in the Philip-
a study conducted at UPLB, yield of 18.47 tons and 26.73 tons turer.
pines as this crop is grown mostly in a semi cultivated condition.
were harvested when 90 kg/ha and 180 kg ha of nitrogen were
However, Tiaong Experimental Station had so far collected dif-
applied respectively, while the control yielded only 12.15 tons / 3. Mosaic – is reported to occur in the Philippines but of minor
ferent strains, namely: Cuenca strain, San Pablo and a foreign
ha. importance. Symptoms are similar to that of abaca mosaic, pres-
one from Africa. Calauan strain was discovered in 1962 at a co-
Compost or commercial fertilizer can be applied to the ence of whitish small dots and narrow streaks. It is transmitted
conut groove in Calauan, Laguna. This strain grows taller and
plant. An application of 300 to 400 kg of 14-14-14 per hectare is either mechanically or through an insect vector – aphids but not
produces more rhizomes than other known strains.
recommended. persistent.
Control Measure: Methods include rouging, selection
CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS Weeding and Cultivation – Simultaneous weeding and of healthy planting materials, controlling of aphids, avoid inter
Arrowroot thrives anywhere in the Philippines provided cultivation must be done during the first three to four months, planting to susceptible host and weed control.
there is enough moisture in the soil for its normal growth and depending upon the weed population in the field. Alternate hill-
development. It grows best in places where rainfall is uniformly ing-up and off-barring must be employed until the plants are bid Insect Pest – Arrowroot is not normally subject to serious attacks
distributed throughout the year. The rhizomes are resistant to in- enough to cover spaces between rows. by pest. In some arrowroot growing countries the only pest of
clement weather and can stay long in the soil. They germinate in any importance is the leaf roller, Colopedes etheus, Cram, which
the same area where they have been planted. can easily controlled by arsenical spray.
PEST AND DISEASES – There are several diseases
found to be associated with arrowroot but only one of them is
Soil Requirements – Arrowroot requires a friable, well Harvesting – The crop is ready for harvest 8 to 10 months af-
reported to occur in the Philippines.
drained loamy soil. However, soil at the foot of the hills, in val- ter planting. However, it was found out to produce higher yield
ley and newly opened areas are preferable. Clayey soil must be when harvested in eleven to twelve months, with higher content
1. Bacterial Wilt – it is a vascular wilt disease of arrowroot re-
avoided since it induce poor rhizome development and usually of starch content (25%).
ported to occur in Brazil in 1962 and the bacterial pathogen was
cause the deformation of the rhizome which tends to break dur- Like any other root crops, it is harvested by passing a
identified as Xanthomonas marantae.
ing harvesting. It is advisable to plant this crop in an open field plow close to the furrows, exposing the tuberous roots, then cut-
Control Measure: Use healthy propagating materials.
provided there is sufficient moisture throughout its growing pe- off the stem. Harvesting with the use of a fork may also be done
Planting should not be located in areas where disease has oc-
riod. Planting in partially shaded areas can also be done but with on by pulling up the whole plant in case of sandy loam soil.
curred and infected plants should be rouged and burned includ-
reduce yield.
ing roots.
USES:
Land Preparation – Prepare the land by plowing and The rhizomes of arrowroot, consist of an easily digested
2. Banded Leaf Blight – it was observed in North Malabar
harrowing two or three times depending upon the soil structure. starch when extracted is a source of a dry white powder. This
(India) in 1946 and described two years later after growers ex-
Plow deep enough to provide favorable condition for better root powder is a source of one of the purest form of natural carbohy-
perienced considerable losses. The disease can be of some con-
development. drates.
sequence under favorable conditions but has been reported only
in India. Evidence of infection is small, water-soaked spots that Superior quality starch is used in making a first class bis-
may enlarge rapidly by the formation of successive but some- cuits, pastries, pudding, cakes, native “kutsinta” and “suman”.