Introgression of antioxidant activity into cassava (Manihot esculenta C.): An effective technique for extending fresh storage roots shelf life

Abstract

Physiological postharvest deterioration (PPD) of cassava is the main constraint affecting its nutritional and economical values. PPD is induced by wounds when detaching storage roots from mother plant during harvesting. It is accelerated by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as oxygen ion (O2) and peroxide (O2)-2. The carotenoid content and its antioxidant property can help in extending shelf life of cassava storage roots. The primary mode of action of carotenoids as antioxidant is to quench singlet oxygen. Cassava breeding was reported to successfully introgress and improve carotenoid content into cassava. The two types of phytoene synthase (PSY) enzymes (PSY1 and PSY2) are key regulators of carotenoids accumulation in cassava. Carotenoids formation and accumulation in cassava storage roots are induced by a single nucleotide polymorphism in PSY2 which causes a non-conservative amino acid exchange. This single nucleotide polymorphism in PSY gene is co-segregated with β-carotene in cassava storage roots, a phenomenon that could help to unravel the mechanism of introgression of carotenoids into cassava. This article investigates breeding feasibility for improving quality of cassava landraces in developing countries.