IITA to Develop Double Disease-Resistant Cassava

Researchers at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have embarked on a project to develop cassava varieties resistant to the Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) and the Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD), diseases considered as the greatest threats to cassava production in Eastern and Central Africa. CBSD, first identified in Malawi, has drastically affected cassava production in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and DR Congo. The disease causes dry rot in the roots rendering them inedible. CMD, on the other hand, first appeared in Uganda in the mid-1980s, spreading fast across the region and almost bringing cassava production to a halt.

After four years of trials in Uganda, the IITA researchers led by Edward Kanju, said they have identified 14 promising varieties. "I am very excited with the results of the trials," Kanju said. "Eight out of the 40 types of cassava under trial did not show any disease symptoms, while 6 had only very mild symptoms either on the roots or leaves or both." The next step will be to subject these plants to even more pressure by deliberately grafting them with diseased plants. "This is a very severe test for establishing disease resistance, and if they still do not show any signs of the diseases, then we can confidently, and for the first time, say that we indeed have cassava varieties that are resistant to both CBSD and CMD," Kanju said.

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