UK: Advancing cassava brown streak disease resistance

A research team reviewed the advancements in managing cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), highlighting the integration of new plant breeding technologies (NPBTs) with traditional breeding to enhance resistance. These efforts are crucial for providing African farmers with CBSD-resistant cassava varieties that also deliver high yields and meet market preferences.The team also advocates for a collaborative network of African breeders, access to modern technologies, strengthened stakeholder capacities, controlled planting material movement, and efficient trait introgression in breeding programs to achieve these goals. The paper is published in the journal Tropical Plants.Cassava, a staple for 800 million people, primarily grown in over 100 tropical and subtropical countries, faces significant yield challenges due to cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), particularly in Africa where production significantly lags behind potential yields.Despite the resilience of cassava in harsh ...