Molecular Marker Systems Accelerating Biofortified Cassava Breeding

Biofortified cassava varieties enriched in provitamin A are critical for addressing micronutrient deficiencies in tropical regions. In collaboration with scientists from IITA Nigeria, CIAT, Texas A&M, the University of Hawaii, Cornell University, and the IITA Zambia hub, this study evaluated the effectiveness of KASP and DArTseq marker systems for diversity analysis, quality control, and trait selection in biofortified cassava breeding populations. The research provides key insights into the strengths and limitations of current molecular markers and highlights the need for improved trait-linked markers. These findings support the integration of genomics-assisted breeding tools to accelerate the development of nutritionally enhanced cassava varieties.