Breeding the Next Generation of Cassava

Varieties for Africa:

Approaches to Enhance Productivity and

Market-Preferred Traits

Chiedozie Egesi, PhD

3rd April 2009, IITA, Ibadan

Background

Africa is the most food insecure continent

Severe stunting is estimated at 40% in children

under 5

Complex food insecurity driven by:

o Fast growing population

o Primordial agricultural sector

o Climatic change

Background

Decreasing per capita food production characterized

by:

o Poor yielding varieties

o Biotic and abiotic stresses

o Low or zero inputs

o Poorly organized markets

New driving forces defining food production,

consumption and markets

Urgent need for development and dissemination of

improved crop varieties

Background

Cassava is the most important staple food in Africa

after maize

Expanding production in drought-prone areas ideal

for food security programmes

Close to 100 million Nigerians eat cassava – based

food at least once a day

Still a subsistence crop except for a few countries

Features as a suitable commodity to drive Africa’s

economic development

Garri Business in Nigeria is very well-established

and is a strong commercial activity

Cassava

Modified Starch

Pharmaceuticals,

Processing inputs

Livestock feed

Processed foods

Industrial Starch (e.g., drilling)

EthanolFlour

Glue

Cassava Transformation

A Business Model Example

Integrated Cassava Project (ICP) implemented by IITA

and Nigerian National partners

Pre-emptive Management of Cassava Mosaic

Disease in Nigeria

Cassava Enterprises Development Project (CEDP)

The entire cassava value chain developed as a

business plan

Need to replicate this kind of integrated project in

other African countries

A Business Model

Good knowledge of the producers to consumers continuum

Application of modern science and technology and

conventional breeding, as well as increased partnerships

Develop and adapt science and technology, and find new

growth markets for cassava

Expectations for Improved Cassava

Breeding

Technologies Productivity Markets

Target: Increased Production, Productivity, Profitability

Recent Activities and

Achievements

National Pre-release Trials:

8-12 sites for each trial yearly; a

very broad range of agro-

ecological zones

High rainfall, disease epidemics

eg. CMD, CBB

Low rainfall, pest epidemics eg.

CGM, drought tolerance

Need for diversified end-use

products with better cooking or

nutritional qualities

Specific adaptation of varieties;

early maturity

Range: Humid forests, Savannas

and Arid agro-ecozones

Multi – environment and On-farm Adaptive Trials

Multi-site Trials in 2008-09

1 NR 02/0007 9 TMS 01/1412

2 NR 02/0018 10 TMS 98/2132

3 NR 03/0211 11 AR 37-108

4 NR 03/0174 12 AR 1-82

5 NR 03/0155 13 CR 12-45

6 TMS 01/1368 14 CR 36-5

7 TMS 01/1371 15 TMS 30572

8 TMS 01/1206 16 Local

National Pre-release Trials:

1. NR 01/0004

2. TMS 01/0040

3. TMS 00/0210

4. TMS 00/0203

5. CR 41-10

On-farm Adaptive Trials in

2009

National Pre-release Trials:

419

94/0039

97/2205

98/2226

95/0379

99/2123

91/02324

82/00058

98/0002

92/0057

M 98/0028

4(2)1425

M 98/0040

92/0067

99/6012

92/0325

30572

97/016294/0561

92/032695/0289

97/3200

94/0026

92B/00061

96/1642

95/0166

96/0603

96/0523

97/476996/1632

98/2101

97/0211 99/3073

98/0510

92B/00068

97/4779

98/0505

97/4763

M 98/006898/0581

UM UDIKE

ISHIAGU

OTOBI

-0.4

-0.2

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

-0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

PC1 = 60.32%; PC2 = 24.54%; Total = 84.86%

PC1 axis

PC

2 a

xis

Env1

Env2

Fast-tracked development and release of improved varieties with

specific adaptation

Identification of key mega-environments for optimal resource use

National Pre-release Trials:

GGE Biplot

Analysis

Officially Released Varieties in Nigeria

An active variety release and/or delivery pipeline

12 varieties released within 3 years

2005

TMS 98/0581

TMS 98/0505

TMS 98/0510

TMS 97/2205

TME 419

2006

NR 87184

TMS 98/0002

TMS 96/1632

TMS 92/0057

TMS 92/0326

2008

NR 930199

TMS 96/1089A

Breeding for micronutrient-dense varieties in

cassava

Micro-nutrient deficiency is endemic especially in

children and reproductive women in all the

cassava growing regions of Nigeria

Official estimates show that one third of Nigerian

children under 5 are deficient in vitamin A

A quarter of children under five are deficient in

iron consumption

Mitigating the ‘Hidden Hunger’ in Africa

Yellow and light yellow garri is

very common and popular in

local markets.

But the yellow colour is derived

from palm oil

Yellow garri has higher price

premium than white colour garri

by 30-60% in Nigeria!

Location

Ibadan Mokwa Onne Ubiaja Zaria

Mean 4.51 5.38 4.11 5.18 5.61

Min 0.60 0.80 0.00 0.40 0.70

Max 8.90 11.0 9.40 9.30 9.40

SD 1.92 2.22 2.23 2.13 2.40

CV (%) 42 37 35 41 42

Variation for carotene content (µg/g)

01/1368

Onne

Ikenne

98/212301/1277

01/164695/037994/0006

01/1206

94/033001/1380

01/1663

01/1371

01/133101/1224

01/141201/144201/1413

01/1649

Mokw a

Ubiaja

90/01554

96/1089ATME1

91/0232430572 Abuja

Ibadan

Zaria01/1335

01/1235

01/161001/140401/1273

Warri 01/1335

-2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Mean total carotenoid (ug/g) FW

IPC

A1

Trait Correlations

Negative association

between dry matter

and carotene, Fe and

Zn contents. Linkage

drag?

But dry matter content

is crucial for adoption

Positive correlation

between Fe, Zn and

carotene

Candidates for Pre-release On-farm Adaptive Trials:

1. TMS 01/1371

2. TMS 01/1610

3. TMS 01/1277

4. TMS 01/1115

5. TMS 01/1412

6. TMS 01/1368

7. TMS 01/1663

Promotion of yellow root cassava in Nigeria

should become a priority and farmers mutually

share valuable resources

Diffusion of improved varieties is routine but

should be strengthened

Fast-tracked combined Demonstration and On-

farm adaptive trials an informal release strategy

National sensitization

- Regulatory agencies: NAFDAC, SON, State ADPs, NSS,

NGOs

Strategies for Reaching End-users

Target Areas: All cassava growing areas

Deliverables:

Short term: Intermediate levels of total carotene

(8-10 ug/g FW)

Medium term: At least 15 ug/g FW

Partnerships with nutritionists, agronomists,

etc.

Critical Next Steps

Critical need for adaptive breeding of yellow-flesh

varieties with local elite lines

Networking for sharing of germplasm and

information at regional (or sub-regional) level

Deliberate promotion of yellow roots for improved

health and livelihoods

Demonstration trials and Commercial scale

multiplication

Critical Next Steps

Adaptive Breeding: Clonal Evaluation Trials

2008-09

Proportion of Pro-Vitamin A Germplasm (n = 543)

35%

31%

26%

8%

White Cream Light Yellow Deep Yellow

New Cassava initiatives in Nigeria on production and

processing since 2002

40% increment in production from 2001 (32.07m MT) to

2006 (45.72m MT) – FAOSTAT, 2007

15% increment in area under cultivation from 2001

(3.3m Ha) to 2006 (3.81m Ha) – FAOSTAT, 2007

30 – 40% of cassava grown in Nigeria are improved

varieties

Standing policy on 10% cassava composite flour

Adoption of E-10 Policy for implementation

25% decline in cassava mosaic disease incidence

Impact of Achievements

Improved varieties that will drive down costs of

production, processing and marketing

Improve the quantity and quality of cassava

products for diversified uses

Making cassava products competitive with other

raw materials

A major food and cash crop in Africa that will

cause farmers to give more attention to their crop

husbandry

Vision for the Cassava Sub-sector

Constraints

Post-harvest physiological deterioration

Long breeding cycle

Changing climate

Wide yield gaps

Insufficient planting materials

Emerging pest and disease threats

Untapped markets

Bulkiness and perishability

Constraints: pests and diseases

Green spider

mite

Cassava

bacterial

blight

Cassava

mealybug

Cassava Brown

Streak DiseaseWhiteflies

Cassava Mosaic

Disease

MCOL 1505:

27.8%

MBRA 337:

9.48%

CM 523-7:

51.9%

CW 429-1:

0%

Delayed post-harvest physiological deterioration F1

hybrid of Manihot walkerae 14 days after harvest

Urgent Research Needs

Delayed post-harvest physiological deterioration

Drought tolerance

Enhanced nutritional quality

Multiple resistance to pests and diseases (pyramiding)

Nutrient responsiveness

Industrial high value root quality

Germplasm management

Genotype – neutral regeneration technologies

Herbicide resistance

Efficient and effective seed delivery systems

Next Generation of Varieties

Multiple resistance genes for durable resistance to new

pest threats

Enhanced nutritional contents (micronutrients and

high protein) in the storage roots

Delayed postharvest physiological deterioration of

roots

High starch yields (quantity and quality) per unit time

and area

Low cyanogenic potential

Next Generation of Varieties

Drought resistant

Nutrient-use efficiency

Herbicide resistant (Round-up Ready)

High dry matter yield per unit time and area

Increased sugar content of roots

Mechanisms for Delivery

A Breeding Tool Box:

Field-based breeding

Marker-assisted breeding

Genetic modification

A seamless continuum of all 3 will deliver varieties with

attributes desired by different end-users and markets

Other avenues:

Induced mutations

Ploidy manipulation

Dist MarkercM Name

rGY1157.9

rGY9

15.6

rGY1

16.1

rSSRY2811.3

Ai19

CMD2

R

Pyramiding Multiple Sources of CMD Resistance Genes for MAS

DY66

18.5rI18b

20.5

rJ1a

20.0

rGY57

21.0

rGY25

21.2

SSRY9

23.9

SSRY316.2

SSRY23CMD1

Fregene et al. 2000

Akano et al. 2001

M

SSRY182

SSRY102

24.4

SSRY230

16.6

Ns9059.1

GY3911.2

SSRY299

NS170

SSRY182

SSRY102

24.4

SSRY230

16.6

Ns9059.1

GY3911.2

SSRY299

SSRY102

24.4

SSRY230

16.6

Ns9059.1

GY3911.2

SSRY299

CMD3

CIAT 2007

Achieving Set Targets

Pre-breeding and Breeding

Combining and fixing of new traits derivable from

primary and secondary gene pools in elite parents

through inbreeding

Wide distribution of the new parents to NARs for

breeding with locally preferred resistant germplasm

MAS will help in efficiently reducing breeding

population by selecting only those with desirable genes

Strategic germplasm exchanges

Achieving Set Targets

Engaging private sector in the value chain

development especially in markets

Adopting models and strategies such as CLAYUCA and

Thai Tapioca Development Institute (TTDI) in sub-

regions in Africa

Strategic engagement and empowerment of NARs in all

stages of product development

Partnerships with relevant ARIs and CGIAR centers

Indicators

Varieties with long shelf life

Little or no yield loss due to water stress

Novel starch types

Enhanced nutritional status

Increased nitrogen use efficiency

Higher dry matter yield

Herbicide resistance

Indicators

Aggressive dissemination of improved varieties

Cassava value chain development

Enabling government policies

Integration of field-based and molecular breeding

as well as genetic modification

Increased alliances between NARs, IARs and ARIs

Cassava Breeding Community of Practice for

Africa

Capacity Building

Raising the next generation of cassava breeders,

combining field-based and molecular breeding:

Partnerships with AGRA

Universities

ACCI, Orange Free State Univ., South Africa

WACCI, Univ. of Ghana

Universities of agriculture

Generation Challenge Programme (CoP)

Contingencies

Continued support from management

Support from the CGIAR

Support from the Nigerian and other African

governments

Development agencies in agriculture

Recent Externally – funded Cassava Breeding Projects at NRCRI

1. Development of Low-Cost Marker Technologies for Pyramiding

Useful Gene from Wild Relatives of Cassava into Elite

Progenitors (GCP)

2. SSR Diversity of Elite Cassava Varieties in Nigeria (GCP)

3. SSR Tagging of New Genes for Resistance to Cassava Mosaic

Disease – Genotyping Support Service (GSS-GCP)

4. Marker-Aided Development of Nutritionally Enhanced

Cassava for Nigeria (GCP)

5. Cassava breeding Community of Practice for Africa (GCP)

6. Mutation Breeding (IAEA)

Partnerships

African NARs

AGRA

CORAF/WECARD

ASARECA

FARA

NEPAD

IFAD

USAID

BMGF

BioCassava Plus

Farmers’ Associations

Harvest Plus

Generation Challenge Programme

CIAT

Hellen Keller

IAEA

EMBRAPA

Private Sector

Other Researchers

Other Stakeholders

Many

Thanks!