Cassava: reconquering diversity
An international team has compared the cassava genome with that of its closest relatives. This work, which involved CIRAD, has lifted the veil on the history and genetic diversity of a plant that currently feeds 800 million people. It paves the way for work to improve yields via the development of more productive or disease-resistant varieties.
A vital but fragile crop
Cassava (Manihot esculenta ), a member of the family Euphorbiaceae, originated in South America, and has been cultivated for almost 9000 years, which makes it one of the oldest known crops. It was exported to Africa by Spanish and Portuguese settlers, and has since become a major food resource, thanks to its starch-rich tubers.
Référence
Bredeson VJ et al . (2016) Sequencing wild and cultivated cassava and related species reveals extensive interspecific hybridization and genetic diversity. Nature Biotechnology, 2016; DOI: 10.1038/nbt.3535
Published: 26/04/2016