[Breeding] A Decade of Genetic Gain in Biofortified Cassava

Over the past decade, cassava breeding programs have achieved significant improvements in nutritional quality while maintaining agronomic performance. This study analyzed multilocation breeding trials conducted between 2013 and 2022 to quantify realized genetic gains in biofortified cassava. The results revealed annual improvements of 7.03% in β-carotene content and 4.15% in root yield, demonstrating the success of sustained breeding investments. These findings highlight the impact of international collaboration in developing cassava varieties that improve both nutrition and farmer productivity.

Figure. Genetic gains in essential traits of biofortified cassava breeding populations. (a) β-carotene content (µg g⁻¹ fresh weight); (b) fresh root yield (t ha⁻¹); (c) dry matter content (%); (d) height at the first branch (cm); and (e) number of branches. The x-axis shows the years when the crosses were made. BLUE (best linear unbiased estimation) values were obtained by fitting linear mixed-effects models, where trial, trial × genotype and trial × replication were specified as random effects, while genotype was specified as a fixed effect.