Collaboration for Large-scale Genome Sequencing of Cassava

Following the success in the release of the first draft of the cassava genome from a CIAT accession in 2009, a new large scale collaborative project between the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and Beijing Genomic Institute (BGI) Shenzhen, China was established to sequence 5,000 cassava genotypes, including landraces, improved varieties, experimental populations and related wild species of the crop.

Dr. Joe Tohme, Director of CIAT's crop research area, emphasized the importance of the partnership towards meeting the center's mission of alleviating hunger and poverty in the tropics through research on eco-efficient agriculture. "This collaboration represents an unprecedented opportunity to boost cassava research and accelerate crop improvement for millions of smallholder farmers," he said. "This work will also help to establish the importance of cassava, giving it the recognition and research support that it rightly deserves."

With this new initiative, scientists will have a better understanding of the crop's evolution and distribution from its origins in the Americas to Africa and Asia and valuable information necessary for breeders to seek and tap new traits for adaption to new production systems, new markets, and to climate change.

Detailed information can be viewed at http://en.genomics.cn/navigation/show_news.action?newsContent.id=8957