Manihot esculenta

Image Credit:

Andrew Grygus, Clovegarden.com

Scientific name: Manihot esculenta

Common name(s): cassava, tapioca

Name as shown in Phylogenes: cassava

Ploidy: diploid

Description:

Manihot esculenta (cassava) is a perennial woody shrub with edible starchy root. It feeds more than half billion people and is a staple crop in Africa. Cassava was domesticated over 6000 years ago by native Amazonian peoples and is now grown in tropical regions worldwide. It is commonly clonally propagated, using stem cuttings when the mother plant is 8-12 months old.

Cassava is a high yield and drought tolerant crop, however poor in protein content and susceptible to diseases. Cassava breeding is mainly focused on disease resistance and yield increase.

Reference(s):

1. Bredeson JV, et al. Sequencing wild and cultivated cassava and related species reveals extensive interspecific hybridization and genetic diversity. Nature biotechnology. 2016 May;34(5):562-570. doi: 10.1038/nbt.3535.

Genome Database(s): 

cassavabase

Cassava Genome Hub

Phytozome