Abstract
Manihot esculenta spp flabellifolia is a potential progenitor for cassava root protein content and yield improvement. Storage roots of cassava landraces are low in protein content due to the fact that past breeding objectives concentrated mainly on yield and resistance to diseases. The improvement of cassava through its wild progenitor is of importance for the full utilization of the potential of the wild progenitor. An interspecific F1 was crossed to a cultivated variety (MTAI - 8) to generate a backcross population. Root protein, yield and other quality traits were evaluated. High root protein content of 9.61%; fresh root yield of 60.00 ton ha-1; dry root yield of 34.75 ton ha-1; and dry matter content of 59.45% was found in this population. High broad-sense heritability was obtained for all the traits evaluated which is a good indicator that genetic improvement can be achieved in this population. This first backcross population had protein values higher than the earlier documented values in the landraces. Key word: Cassava, Manihot esculenta ssp flabellifolia, interspecific, protein and yield.
Highlights
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) has enormous potential to reduce hunger and malnutrition for millions of people that thrive on it as a food security crop
Wild relatives of cassava have become a source of improving the crop by introgressing useful genes from it (Fregene et al, 2007)
The potential for genetic improvement of cassava has been demonstrated and progress made in increasing yield potential and stability (Ngoan et al, 1995; Kawano, 1998; Ojulong et al, 2008; Okechukwu and Dixon, 2009)
Summary
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) has enormous potential to reduce hunger and malnutrition for millions of people that thrive on it as a food security crop. Wild relatives of cassava have become a source of improving the crop by introgressing useful genes from it (Fregene et al, 2007). One of the drawbacks of cassava root is its low protein content (Fregene et al, 2006). The potential for genetic improvement of cassava has been demonstrated and progress made in increasing yield potential and stability (Ngoan et al, 1995; Kawano, 1998; Ojulong et al, 2008; Okechukwu and Dixon, 2009). World mean yield (12.2 ton ha-1) for cassava is still far below the yield potential (90 ton ha-1) from the experimental field evaluations of the released varieties across growing regions (Fermont et al, 2009; Lebot, 2009; Ziska et al, 2009)
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