Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 3.0

African Cassava: Biotechnology and Molecular Breeding to the Rescue

Michael A. Gbadegesin, Charles O. Olaiya, John R. Beeching

Biotechnology Journal International · pp. 305–317 · Published 3 May 2018

10.9734/BBJ/2013/3449

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 adapho-climatic 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.

Cassava biotechnology breeding protein energy malnutrition cyanide poisoning post-harvest physiological deterioration cassava mosaic virus

References (50)

  1. 1 Biorefineries: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Direction [DOI]
  2. 2 Cassava biology and physiology [DOI]
  3. 3 Evidence on the origin of cassava: Phylogeography of Manihot esculenta [DOI]
  4. 4 Cassava breeding: opportunities and challenges [DOI]
  5. 5 Cassava: New Potential For A Neglected Crop
  6. 6 Closing the cassava yield gap: An analysis from smallholder farms in East Africa [DOI]
  7. 7 Variation of quality traits in cassava roots evaluated in landraces and improved clones [DOI]
  8. 8 Genetic mapping of a dominant gene conferring resistance to cassava mosaic disease [DOI]
  9. 9 Discovery of an Amylose-free Starch Mutant in Cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) [DOI]
  10. 10 International research on cassava photosynthesis, productivity, eco-physiology, and responses to environmental stresses in the tropics [DOI]
  11. 11 Full Chain Energy Analysis of Fuel Ethanol from Cassava in Thailand [DOI]
  12. 12 Towards identifying the full set of genes expressed during cassava post-harvest physiological deterioration [DOI]
  13. 13 Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of friable embryogenic calli and regeneration of transgenic cassava [DOI]
  14. 14 Consuming cassava as a staple food places children 2-5 years old at risk for inadequate protein intake, an observational study in Kenya and Nigeria [DOI]
  15. 15 Sequencing analysis of 20,000 full-length cDNA clones from cassava reveals lineage specific expansions in gene families related to stress response [DOI]
  16. 16 Cassava: constraints to production and the transfer of biotechnology to African laboratories [DOI]
  17. 17 Exploiting the Combination of Natural and Genetically Engineered Resistance to Cassava Mosaic and Cassava Brown Streak Viruses Impacting Cassava Production in Africa [DOI]
  18. 18 Cassava cyanogens and konzo, an upper motoneuron disease found in Africa [DOI]
  19. 19 Breeding cassava for resistance to cassava mosaic disease [DOI]
  20. 20 Cassava Diet, Chronic Cyanide Intoxication and Neuropathy in the Nigerian Africans [DOI]
  21. 21 Generation of cyanogen-free transgenic cassava [DOI]
  22. 22 Thirty Years of Cassava Breeding for Productivity—Biological and Social Factors for Success [DOI]
  23. 23 Genetic modification of cassava for enhanced starch production [DOI]
  24. 24 Dose-dependent RNAi-mediated geminivirus resistance in the tropical root crop cassava [DOI]
  25. 25 The tropical tuber crops : yams, cassava, sweet potato, and cocoyams
  26. 26 Children Consuming Cassava as a Staple Food are at Risk for Inadequate Zinc, Iron, and Vitamin A Intake [DOI]
  27. 27 Oxidative stress responses during cassava post-harvest physiological deterioration [DOI]
  28. 28 Growth and nutritive value of cassava (Manihot esculenta Cranz.) are reduced when grown in elevated CO2 [DOI]
  29. 29 Breeding Cassava to Feed the Poor [DOI]
  30. 30 Characterization of an 18,166 EST dataset for cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) enriched for drought-responsive genes [DOI]
  31. 31 Transgenic cassava resistance to African cassava mosaic virus is enhanced by viral DNA-A bidirectional promoter-derived siRNAs [DOI]
  32. 32 Marker‐Assisted Introgression of Resistance to Cassava Mosaic Disease into Latin American Germplasm for the Genetic Improvement of Cassava in Africa [DOI]
  33. 33 Over‐expression of hydroxynitrile lyase in transgenic cassava roots accelerates cyanogenesis and food detoxification [DOI]
  34. 34 Hydrogen Peroxide and Flavan-3-ols in Storage Roots of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) during Postharvest Deterioration [DOI]
  35. 35 Post-harvest deterioration of cassava: A biotechnology perspective
  36. 36 Retention during Processing and Bioaccessibility of β-Carotene in High β-Carotene Transgenic Cassava Root [DOI]
  37. 37 Economic impact analysis of marker-assisted breeding for resistance to pests and post harvest deterioration in cassava [DOI]
  38. 38 Wound and Defense Responses in Cassava as Related to Post-Harvest Physiological Deterioration [DOI]
  39. 39 An EST resource for cassava and other species of Euphorbiaceae [DOI]
  40. 40 Molecular analysis of differentially expressed genes during postharvest deterioration in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) tuberous roots [DOI]
  41. 41 Genetic Structure and Population Dynamics of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis in Colombia from 1995 to 1999 [DOI]
  42. 42 Recent progress in the characterization of molecular determinants in the Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis–cassava interaction [DOI]
  43. 43 Iron and protein biofortification of cassava: lessons learned [DOI]
  44. 44 Analysis of Biological Control of Cassava Pests in Africa. III. Cassava Green Mite Mononychellus tanajoa [DOI]
  45. 45 Phytochemical Signals and Plant-Microbe Interactions [DOI]
  46. 46 Propagating Cassava (Manihot esculenta) by Sexual Seed [DOI]
  47. 47 Sanitation techniques for cassava.
  48. 48 Cassava diet – A cause for mucopolysaccharidosis? [DOI]
  49. 49 Isolation and partial characterization of a root-specific promoter for stacking multiple traits into cassava (Manihot esculenta CRANTZ) [DOI]
  50. 50 Network impact and scientific advances in cassava biotechnology.

Cited by 21

Evaluating Consumer Perceptions and Safety of Genetically Modified Foods in Africa: A Comprehensive Review

Adeola Omotosha Dolapo, H. Onyeaka, C. Ekwueme · Food Science & Nutrition · 2025

Bamboo (Bambusoideae) Leaf Application on the Detoxification of Cassava Wastewater for Potential Biogas Production

M. Omotioma, C. F. Okezue, I. A. Obiora-Okafo · Journal of Water Chemistry and Technology · 2021

Emerging Agricultural Biotechnologies for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security.

Jennifer A. H. Anderson, M. Gipmans, S. Hurst · Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry · 2016

Showing 18 of 21 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

67

Page views

0

PDF downloads

33

Outbound clicks

21

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.