[Genetics] Genetic Mapping of Whitefly Resistance in Cassava

Whiteflies are major pests threatening cassava production worldwide. Collaborating with scientists from CIAT, ICARDA, and EMBL-EBI, weidentified quantitative trait loci controlling resistance to the whitefly Aleurotrachelus socialis. A major QTL on chromosome 8 explained over 35% of phenotypic variation, and associated SNP markers were validated across diverse cassava germplasm. These markers enable efficient marker-assisted selection of insect-resistant varieties. The study highlights how collaborative genomic research can accelerate the development of pest-resilient cassava cultivars for sustainable tropical agriculture.