Abstract
Cassava is the most widely cultivated and consumed crop in Ghana. Malnutrition is endemic in cassava-producing regions of Africa, partly due to the low micronutrient content of this crop. The aim of this study was to generate genetic information on characteristics such as total carotenoid content, dry matter content, root weight and number, and cassava mosaic disease (CMD), and their possible combination in cassava clones, using a North Carolina II breeding scheme. Five genetically diverse yellow-fleshed clones at advanced selection stages, with CMD resistance, were used as females and two high dry matter content white-fleshed clones, selected from farmers’ fields in Ghana, were used as males. Ten F1 families were generated, and evaluated at two locations in Ghana. General combining ability (GCA) mean squares were larger than specific combining ability (SCA) mean squares for harvest index, CMD, and carotenoid content, indicating additive genetic effects. The positive significant correlations that were observed between pulp color and carotenoid content; carotenoid content and CMD; pulp color and CMD; and pulp color and cortex color, make the screening of large numbers of progenies possible in the cassava breeding program. This could allow breeders to combine carotenoid content and CMD at the early breeding stages through visual assessment of pulp color and CMD symptoms. Large numbers of genotypes can be evaluated and a few can be selected to be quantified for carotenoid content at later stages of the breeding program, to save costs. One of the parents (P6), showed positive GCA effects for carotenoid content, dry matter content, CMD and storage root weight, hence could be used as a parent to generate clones that combine carotenoid content and dry matter content.
Highlights
The populations of underdeveloped and developing countries often suffer undernourishment and so-called “hidden hunger” as a result of micronutrient deficiencies
Cassava varieties with high carotenoid content and dry matter content will be rejected by the National Release Committee if they are susceptible to cassava mosaic disease (CMD) in Ghana
The results suggest that both carotenoid content and CMD could be enhanced through recurrent mass selection due to the additive nature and high heritability for these characteristics [21]
Summary
The populations of underdeveloped and developing countries often suffer undernourishment and so-called “hidden hunger” as a result of micronutrient deficiencies. Among its several initiatives is the development of biofortified cassava clones with high provitamin A content in the roots On this score, the national cassava breeding program at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Crops Research Institute (CSIR—CRI) initiated a breeding program with the aim of developing high yielding cultivars with high levels of carotenoid content, dry matter content and disease resistance. The national cassava breeding program at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Crops Research Institute (CSIR—CRI) initiated a breeding program with the aim of developing high yielding cultivars with high levels of carotenoid content, dry matter content and disease resistance Deployment of such cassava varieties could sustainably improve nutrition and reduce prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in communities that heavily depend on cassava, especially in the rural population [4,5]. Previous studies [9,10] found that correlations between carotenoid content and dry matter content were not statistically significant when analyzing Latin American cassava germplasm
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