Bringing Cassava Breeding into the 21st Century

Saturday, February 13, 2016: 8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Wilson A (Marriott Wardman Park)
Chiedozie Egesi, National Root Crops Research Institute, Umuahia, Nigeria
Cassava is the main source of calories for half a billion people around the world and is especially critical for food security in Africa. Despite its global importance, cassava has received relatively little research attention compared to other staple crops. This presentation will describe efforts to bring cassava breeding into the 21st century by incorporating plant genetic resources and genomic technologies to improve yield, nutritional properties, and pest and disease resistance.