Advances on Engineering Cassava for Food and Nutrition Sec in the 21st Century

Abstract

Cassava serves as a staple food for over 8 million Nigerians and other African countries. It is an excellent food security crop due to its high adaptability to marginal soil and adverse climate conditions. However, cassava is predominately starch with little or no essential nutrients such as proteins, minerals and vitamins. It is also susceptible to a number of diseases and pests including cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), cassava mosaic disease (CMD), cassava bacterial blight (CBB), cassava anthracnose disease and cassava green mite. Genetic improvement by conventional breeding has led to the development of cassava varieties with improved disease resistance, starch accumulation, high dry matter content and increased yield. However, improvement for nutrient enhancement and reduction of post-harvest deterioration via conventional breeding has been less successful due to low genetic base, heterozygosity, low seed set and inconsistent flowering. Genetic engineering remains a viable option for the introgression of exotic traits in cassava. Advances on engineering cassava for elevated levels of vitamins and minerals, disease resistance and reduction of post-harvest deterioration are underway and form a major discussion for this book chapter.