Danforth Center Gets Research Grant for Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa
September 9, 2011| |
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has received $11.9 million for the Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa (VIRCA) project aimed to develop and deliver farmer-preferred cassava varieties enhanced to resist serious plant virus diseases. The additional funding came from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ($5.6 million), the Monsanto Fund ($5.4 million), and the Howard Buffett Foundation ($860,000). VIRCA is also supported by USAID from the American people ($2.5 million).
Two products will be developed. The first product will incorporate siRNA-based resistance to Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) in the popular cultivar TME204, which has natural resistance to Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD). A second product will be developed in the highly popular, traditional Ebwanateraka cultivar in which virus sequences will be stacked to impart resistance to both CBSD and CMD.
" I have witnessed the devastation caused by CMD and CBSD, wiping out entire harvests, leaving many people on the verge of starvation. Our team is confident that the cassava we develop will improve the lives of millions of people allowing them to not only grow adequate food, but also to increase productivity so they might have enough money left over to educate their children and afford good medical care for malaria and other diseases they face," said Dr. Claude Fauquet, principal investigator.
For additional information email Karla Goldstein at kgoldstein@danforthcenter.org or Melanie Bernds at mbernds@danforthcenter.org.
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