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Research Project: CLINICAL NUTRITION IN CHILDREN

Location: Children Nutrition Research Center (Houston, Tx)

Title: The BioCassava Plus program: Biofortification of cassava for sub-Saharan Africa

Authors
item Sayre, Richard -
item Beeching, John -
item Cahoon, Edgar -
item Egesi, Chiedozie -
item Fauquet, Claude -
item Fellman, John -
item Fregene, Martin -
item Gruissem, Wilhelm -
item Mallowa, Sally -
item Manary, Mark -
item Maziya-Dixon, Bussie -
item Mbanaso, Ada -
item Schachtman, Daniel -
item Siritunga, Dimuth -
item Taylor, Nigel -
item Vanderschuren, Herve -
item Zhang, Peng -

Submitted to: Annual Reviews of Plant Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 1, 2011
Publication Date: June 1, 2011
Citation: Sayre, R., Beeching, J.R., Cahoon, E.B., Egesi, C., Fauquet, C., Fellman, J., Fregene, M., Gruissem, W., Mallowa, S., Manary, M., Maziya-Dixon, B., Mbanaso, A., Schachtman, D.P., Siritunga, D., Taylor, N., Vanderschuren, H., Zhang, P. 2011. The BioCassava Plus program: Biofortification of cassava for sub-Saharan Africa. Annual Reviews of Plant Biology. 62:251-272.

Interpretive Summary: Millions of Africans rely on the crop cassava as their staple source of calories, but the crop provides inadequate amounts of protein, iron, zinc and Vitamin A. Genetically engineered cassava was developed with increased nutrient intake, increased shelf life, reduced cyanogenic glycosides, and resistance to viral diseases. The cassava was tested and its efficiency was proven. This study shows that developing a genetically biofortified cassava is possible and efficient.

Technical Abstract: More than 250 million Africans rely on the starchy root crop cassava (Manihot esculenta) as their staple source of calories. A typical cassava-based diet, however, provides less than 30% of the minimum daily requirement for protein and only 10-20% of that for iron, zinc, and vitamin A. The BioCassava Plus (BC+) program has employed modern biotechnologies intended to improve the health of Africans through the development and delivery of genetically engineered cassava with increased nutrient (zinc, iron, protein, and vitamin A) levels. Additional traits addressed by BioCassava Plus include increased shelf life, reduced toxic cyanogenic glycosides to safe levels, and resistance to viral disease. The program also provides incentives for the adoption of biofortified cassava. Proof of concept was achieved for each of the target traits. Results from field trials in Puerto Rico, the first confined field trials in Nigeria to use genetically engineered organisms, and ex ante impact analyses support the efficacy of using transgenic strategies for the biofortification of cassava.

   

 
Project Team
Upchurch, Dan
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Human Nutrition (107)
 
Related Projects
   CLINICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON NUTRITION AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
 
 
Last Modified: 05/23/2013
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