Expectations for Improved Cassava Breeding: Technologies,Productivity and Markets

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Garri Business in Nigeria is very well-established
and is a strong commercial activity

6. Cassava Transformation
Ethanol
Flour
Modified Starch
Pharmaceuticals,
Processing inputs
Glue
Cassava
Industrial Starch
(e.g., drilling)
Livestock feed
Processed foods

7. 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

8. 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

9. Expectations for Improved Cassava
Breeding
Technologies Productivity Markets
Target: Increased Production, Productivity, Profitability

10. Recent Activities and
Achievements

11. National Pre-release Trials:
Multi – environment and On-farm Adaptive 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
Range: Humid forests, Savannas
and Arid agro-ecozones  Specific adaptation of varieties;
early maturity

12. National Pre-release 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

13. National Pre-release Trials:
On-farm Adaptive Trials in
2009
1. NR 01/0004
2. TMS 01/0040
3. TMS 00/0210
4. TMS 00/0203
5. CR 41-10

14. National Pre-release Trials:
PC1 = 60.32%; PC2 = 24.54%; Total = 84.86%
1
ISHIA GU
0.8
Env1
0.6
98/0510
PC2 axis 0.4
GGE Biplot 0.2
97/3200
94/0026
97/4779
92B /00068
Analysis
M 98/0028 97/0162
94/0561
95/0289
92/0326 419
4(2)1425 30572
96/0603 98/0505
M 98/0040
0 92/0057
97/2205 95/0379 92/0067 82/00058
94/0039 96/0523
95/0166 91/02324 97/4763
98/2226
99/6012 97/021 99/3073
1 98/0581
96/1642
-0.2
92/0325
97/4769
99/2123
92B /0006196/1
98/21
632
01
M 98/0068
98/0002
UM UDIKE
Env2
OTOB I
-0.4
-0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
PC1 axis
 Fast-tracked development and release of improved varieties with
specific adaptation
 Identification of key mega-environments for optimal resource use

15. Officially Released Varieties in Nigeria
An active variety release and/or delivery pipeline
12 varieties released within 3 years
2005 2006 2008
TMS 98/0581 NR 87184 NR 930199
TMS 98/0505 TMS 98/0002 TMS 96/1089A
TMS 98/0510 TMS 96/1632
TMS 97/2205 TMS 92/0057
TME 419 TMS 92/0326

16. Mitigating the ‘Hidden Hunger’ in Africa
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

17. 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!

18. Variation for carotene content (µg/g)
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

19. 2
1.5
Mokw a
Ubiaja
1 01/1663
01/1331
01/1224 01/1371
0.5 TME1
01/1649
96/1089A Zaria 01/1413
IPCA1
30572 Abuja 01/1442
91/02324 01/1335
0 90/01554 Warri 01/1412
01/1335 01/1235
94/0330Ibadan 01/1273 01/1404
01/1380 01/1610
01/1206
-0.5 94/0006 95/0379
01/1646
01/1277 01/1368
98/2123
-1 Ikenne
-1.5 Onne
-2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Mean total carotenoid (ug/g) FW

20. 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

21. 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

22. Strategies for Reaching End-users
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

23. Critical Next Steps
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.

24. 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

25. Adaptive Breeding: Clonal Evaluation Trials
2008-09
35%
31%
26%
8%
White Cream Light Yellow Deep Yellow
Proportion of Pro-Vitamin A Germplasm (n = 543)

26. Impact of Achievements
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

27. Vision for the Cassava Sub-sector
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

28. 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

29. Constraints: pests and diseases
Cassava Mosaic Cassava Brown
Disease Streak Disease
Whiteflies
Cassava
mealybug
Cassava
bacterial Green spider
blight mite

30. Delayed post-harvest physiological deterioration F1
hybrid of Manihot walkerae 14 days after harvest
MCOL 1505:
27.8%
MBRA 337:
9.48%
CW 429-1:
0%
CM 523-7:
51.9%

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. Pyramiding Multiple Sources of CMD
Resistance Genes for MAS
D
18.5
Y66
R
Dist Marker
rI18b cM Name
20.5
rJ1a rGY115
7.9
20.0 rGY9
rGY57 15.6
21.0 rGY1
rGY25 16.1 CMD2
21.2 rSSRY28
11.3
SSRY9
Ai19 Akano et al. 2001
23.9
SSRY3
16.2
CMD1
M
SSRY23
Fregene et al. 2000
SSRY102
24.4
SSRY230
16.6 NS170
9.1 CMD3
Ns905
GY39
11.2 SSRY182
SSRY299 CIAT 2007

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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)

41. Contingencies
Continued support from management
Support from the CGIAR
Support from the Nigerian and other African
governments
Development agencies in agriculture

42. 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)

43. Partnerships
African NARs Farmers’ Associations
AGRA Harvest Plus
CORAF/WECARD Generation Challenge Programme
ASARECA CIAT
FARA Hellen Keller
NEPAD IAEA
IFAD EMBRAPA
USAID Private Sector
BMGF Other Researchers
BioCassava Plus Other Stakeholders

44. Many
Thanks!