Recent advances in molecular breeding of cassava for improved drought stress tolerance

Abstract

Cassava is an important tropical starchy root crop that is used extensively in drought prone tropical regions. It responds to water deficit with a dehydration avoidance and growth arrest syndrome. Carbohydrate is supplied from stems via remobilization. It is very limited in its use of osmotic adjustment, compatible solute synthesis, dehydrin accumulation and other tolerance mechanisms for low water potential. Given the difficulties of conventional breeding of cassava due to its long breeding cycle, heterozygousity, and difficulties in producing seed, an important recent development is the use of molecular markers and marker assisted selection (MAS). MAS is also contributing to the introgression of traits from wild relatives © 2007 Springer.