Variation of quality traits in cassava roots evaluated in landraces and improved clones

Abstract

About 70 million people obtain more than 500 cal per day from cassava roots. The crop is fundamental as food security of poor rural communities, but little is known about variability of root nutritional and quality traits. Roots from 2457 genotypes comprising landraces and improved clones, were screened for their nutritional (cyanogenic potential, carotene, minerals, and sugars contents) and agronomic (dry matter content, color intensity, and postharvest physiological deterioration) traits. The objective was to assess the range of variation for the traits evaluated to define future research strategies. Results are mostly based on unreplicated measurements. Carotene contents in the roots ranged from 0.102 to 1.040 mg/100 g fresh tissue and correlated positively with color intensity (ρ = 0.860) and cyanogenic potential (ρ = 0.305). Average levels of Fe and Zn were 17.1 and 7.5 mg/kg, respectively. Many clones derived from Meso-America showed high protein levels in the roots, probably as a result of the introgression from wild relatives only found in that region. The observed values for carotene, proteins and minerals contents suggest the potential for improving the nutritive value of cassava.

Eats roots and leaves. Can edible horticultural crops address dietary calcium, magnesium and potassium deficiencies?

“…In roots, up to 8-fold variation in Ca and 4 . 6-fold variation in Mg occurred among 600 cassava genotypes (Manihot esculenta) (36) , a significant variation also reported for carrot (Daucus carota) (37) (Table 3). There are fewer published data for fruit, although > 2-fold variation in fruit Ca concentrations has been reported among plantain (Musa spp.)…”

Potencial agronômico e teor de carotenoides em raízes de reserva de mandioca

“…Atualmente, os programas de melhoramento genético de mandioca de mesa estão focados no desenvolvimento de variedades biofortifi cadas que aliem aos caracteres citados acima a presença de carotenoides como β-caroteno nas raízes de coloração amarela (CHÁVEZ et al, 2005;MEZETTE et al, 2009;CARVALHO et al, 2012a;CARVALHO et al, 2012b) e licopeno nas raízes de coloração rosada (CARVALHO et al, 2011). Esses carotenoides apresentam importância na alimentação humana pelos benefícios do β-caroteno como precursor da vitamina A, no combate a cegueira noturna, distúrbios de crescimento e difi culdade de aprendizagem (UNDERWOOD & SMITASII, 1999), e do licopeno como antioxidante, no combate ao envelhecimento precoce e na prevenção do câncer de próstata (SHAMI & MOREIRA, 2004).…”

Variation in Nutrient Composition of Cassava Pulp and its Effects on in vitro Digestibility

“…The fresh cassava pulp is normally sun-dried to a moisture content of 10-13% and commonly used as animal feed. The nutritional quality of cassava pulp is variable, depending on a number of factors including the starch extraction process, cassava cultivars cultivation practices adapted by farmers (Bede, 2010;Chavez et al, 2005).…”