[Breeding] Molecular Markers for Cassava Mosaic Disease Resistance

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) is one of the most devastating viral diseases affecting cassava production worldwide. In collaboration with researchers from the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), the Vietnamese Agricultural Genetics Institute, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, and CIAT, we developed DNA markers targeting mutations associated with the CMD2 resistance locus. These markers enable efficient identification of resistant plants in breeding populations. The results provide practical tools for marker-assisted selection of CMD resistance, supporting global cassava breeding programs aimed at improving crop resilience and stabilizing production in Asia and Africa.