Scientists Speed-up Improvement of Cassava's Vitamin A Content

Scientists from the National University of Colombia and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) have found a way to fast track the improvement of the nutritional value of cassava, particularly vitamin A, from eight years to three. Upon realizing that the heritability of carotenoids content in cassava roots is high, the researchers have introduced a drastic modification on the breeding scheme of the crop known as rapid cycling recurrent selection tool. This resulted gain of total carotenoids content in cassava.

The results have further implications beyond boosting vitamin A content in cassava as scientists can also apply this principle of rapid breeding for other high-heritability traits in crops. Resistance to high-heritability diseases, for example, could be tested more rapidly.

For more information, visit http://www.ciatnews.cgiar.org/2013/10/08/fast-tracking-nutrition-a-magical-discovery/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fast-tracking-nutrition-a-magical-discovery. See the study's detailed report at http://ciatblogs.cgiar.org/agbio/files/2013/10/rapid-cycling-carotenoids-cassava.pdf.