African Cassava: Biotechnology and Molecular Breeding to the Rescue.
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Date
2013-07
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Abstract
Cassava is an important African food crop, where it is a staple to about 250 Million
people. It is a household name in Nigeria, the world largest producer of the root crop. It is
propagated from stem cuttings and well known for its adaptation to wide range of adaphoclimatic
conditions and including those unfavourable for other crops. However cassava
production, exploitation, utilization and acceptance are limited by diseases and pests,
cyanogenesis, low protein content and quality, and post-harvest physiological
deterioration. The breeding research activities of IITA (International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture) Ibadan, Nigeria, CIAT (International Centre of Tropical Agriculture) located in
Cali, Colombia and National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria
have transformed cassava to double as a food security crop as well as a cash and
industrial crop. Of recent, Bio Cassava Plus, an initiative sponsored by Bill and Melinda
Gates, has been using experimental biotechnology approaches to address several of the
main constraints to African cassava. This review presents the many advantages of
cassava to the small-scale farmer and its potentials for industrial applications. It also
describes the roles of biotic and abiotic factors hampering the production yield, root
quality, nutritional adequacy, marketability and acceptance, and commercial processes. The use of conventional breeding and biotechnology in unravelling the milieu of these
constraints is discussed as well.
Description
Keywords
Cassava, biotechnology, breeding, protein energy malnutrition, cyanide poisoning, post-harvest physiological deterioration, cassava mosaic virus
Citation
Gbadegesin Michael A, Olaiya Charles O, Beeching John R. African Cassava: Biotechnology and Molecular Breeding to the Rescue. British Biotechnology Journal. 2013 July; 3(3): 305-317.