Growth and Tuberization in Seed-Propagated Cassava
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47672/aja.2811Keywords:
Tuberization, Seed-propagated cassava, Tap root, Lateral root, Starch grain.Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to assess the growth and tuberization dynamics in seed-propagated cassava in order to offer insights into the morphological and anatomical characteristics of cassava during various stages of growth.
Materials and Methods: Cassava seeds of line TMS 30555 obtained from IITA were planted at a distance of 25 cm by 25 cm in prepared beds. Regular observations were made on plant morphological characteristics, tuber formation, stem height, taproot length and lateral root length with data obtained analysized using Microsoft Excel. Microscopic analysis was conducted on root samples to assess tuberization using a detailed slide preparation procedure involving fixation, dehydration, infiltration with paraffin wax, embedding, sectioning with a microtome, staining and mounting on slides for examination under a microscope.
Findings: There was a steady weekly increase in the average number of nodes with an almost constant number of lobes and number of adventitious roots on the hypocotyl. The true leaf produced on the second node was simple and the shape was ovate. The study confirmed that starch synthesis begins in cassava roots around six weeks post-sowing, initially visible in cortical cells before spreading to xylem arms and lateral roots. By eight weeks after sowing, there was a notable increase in starch grain accumulation across various parts of the lateral roots. There was also strong positive correlations among stem height, taproot length and lateral root length, suggesting that these traits are interdependent and influenced by shared genetic factors and environmental conditions.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The findings provide valuable insights into the growth and development of seed-propagated cassava plants, which can help guide breeding efforts aimed at improving cassava yield and quality. The understanding gained in the growth and development of seed-propagated cassava plants, including factors influencing tuberization and starch accumulation, is essential as it informs breeding efforts aimed at improving crop yield, resilience and nutritional content, partly contributing to resolutions towards food insecurity.
Downloads
References
Ceballos, H., Iglesias, C. A., Pérez, J. C., & Dixon, A. G. (2004). Cassava breeding: opportunities and challenges. Plant molecular biology, 56, 503-516.
Ceballos, H., Kawuki, R. S., Nuwamanya, E., Williams, E., Egesi, C., Amele, A., ... & Batte, M. (2019). State of knowledge on breeding for quality roots, tubers and cooking bananas. Integrated end-user focused breeding for VUE (Variety, User, socio-economic Environment), WP4. Montpellier (France). RTBfoods State of Knowledge Report, 80 p.
CGIAR. (2019). Cassava and Climate Change: Boosting the IQ of a Naturally Climate-Smart Crop. https://www.cgiar.org/news-events/news/cassava-and-climate-change-boosting-the-iq-of-a-naturally-climate-smart-crop/
Chaweewan, Y., & Taylor, N. (2015). Anatomical assessment of root formation and tuberization in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). Tropical Plant Biology, 8, 1-8.
Cock, J. H., & Connor, D. J. (2021). Cassava. In: Crop physiology case histories for major crops (pp. 588-633). Academic Press.
Egesi, C. N., Ogbe, F. O., Oyelakin, O. O., Ilori, C. O., & Dixon, A. G. (2018). Genetic diversity and association analysis of cassava root traits under different environmental conditions. Euphytica, 214 (6), 107.
El-Sharkawy, M.A. (2006). Cassava biology and physiology. Plant Molecular Biology, 56(4), 481-501.
Fei, S. Z. (2023). Chapter 15: Cassava Breeding. Pressbooks. https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/cropimprovement/chapter/cassava-breeding/#:~:text=Cassava%20can%20be%20propagated%20by,done%20mostly%20through%20stem%20cuttings.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2013). Cassava: A Resource for the Poor. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3274e.pdf
Hengl, T. & Nauman, T. (2018). Predicted USDA soil great groups at 250 m (probabilities) (Version v01) [Data set]. Zenodo. 10.5281/zenodo.1476844
Hengl, T., Miller, M.A.E., Križan, J., & Crouch J. (2021). African soil properties and nutrients mapped at 30 m spatial resolution using two-scale ensemble machine learning. Sci Rep 11, 6130 doi:10.1038/s41598-021-85639-y
Iglesias, C., Hershey, C., Calle, F., & Bolaños, A. (1994). Propagating cassava (Manihot esculenta) by sexual seed. Experimental Agriculture, 30(3), 283-290.
Kawano, K. (2003). Thirty years of cassava breeding for productivity - biotechnology options for the cassava improvement. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant, 39(5), 616-624.
Kengkanna, J., Jakaew, P., Amawan, S., Busener, N., Bucksch, A., & Saengwilai, P. (2019). Phenotypic variation of cassava root traits and their responses to drought. Applications in Plant Sciences, 7(4), e01238.
Kutner, M. H., Nachtsheim, C. J., Neter, J., & Li, W. (2005). Applied linear statistical models. 5th Edition, McGraw-Hill Irwin, New York.
Legg, J. P., Jeremiah, S. C., Obiero, H. M., Maruthi, M. N., Ndyetabula, I., Okao-Okuja, G., … & Kumar, P. L. (2014). Comparing the regional epidemiology of the cassava mosaic and cassava brown streak virus pandemics in Africa. Virus Research, 186, 96-107.
Mattos, P. L. P., & Cardoso, E. M. R. (2003). Cultivo da mandioca para o Estado do Pará. Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura. Sistemas de Produção 13. https://sistemasdeproducao.cnptia.embrapa.br/FontesHTML/Mandioca/mandioca_para/sementes.htm
Muiruri, S. K., Ntui, V. O., Tripathi, L., & Tripathi, J. N. (2021). Mechanisms and approaches towards enhanced drought tolerance in cassava (Manihot esculenta). Current Plant Biology, 28, 100227.
Mwanga, P., Ndunguru, E., & Woolfe, G. (2007). Storage root development in cassava: Anatomical changes associated with starch accumulation. Plant Cell Environment, 30(11), 1373–1383. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3040.2007.01726.x
Njoku, D. N., Egesi, C. N., Okogbenin, E., & Dixon, A. G. (2021). Root traits and phosphorus use efficiency of cassava genotypes under low phosphorus conditions. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 44(1), 1-12.
Okechukwu, R. U., Egesi, C. N., Ilona, P., & Dixon, A. G. (2019). Cassava: Biology, production and utilization. Elsevier.
Okogbenin, E., Setter, T. L., Ferguson, M., Mutegi, R., Ceballos, H., Olasanmi, B., & Fregene, M. (2013). Phenotypic approaches to drought in cassava. Frontiers in Physiology, 4, 93.
Olsen, K. M., & Schaal, B. A. (2007). Insights on the evolution of a vegetatively propagated crop species. Molecular Ecology, 16, 2838-2840.
Onwueme I. C., & Winston B. C. (1994). Tropical Root and Tuber Crops: Production, Perspectives and Future Prospects. Italy: FAO.
Oyiga, B. C., Kumar, P. L., El-Sharkawy, M. A., & Ferguson, M. E. (2021). Genotypic variation in cassava root traits and their association with drought tolerance. Journal of Crop Improvement 35(1),1-14.
Sasu D. D. (2024). Production volume of cassava in Ghana 2009-2022. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1188629/production-volume-of-cassava-in-ghana/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20Ghana%20produced%2025.6,country%20has%20increased%20since%202009.
Sawatraksa, K. (2019). Cassava Growth Analysis of Production during the Off‐Season of Paddy Rice. Crop Science, 59(2), 435–444. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2018.07.0435
Sillero, J., & Vuylsteke, D. (2009). Manihot esculenta Crantz: History, taxonomy, and genetic resources. Advances in Agronomy, 107, 1–100.
Tetteh, J. P., Omenyo, E. L., & Dankwa, A. (1997). Tuberization and effect of age of seedlings at transplant on yield of seed-propagated cassava. Ghana Journal Agric. Sci. 30, 9-14.
Uke, A., Tokunaga, H., Utsumi, Y., Vu, N. A., Nhan, P. T., Srean, P., ... & Ugaki, M. (2022). Cassava mosaic disease and its management in Southeast Asia. Plant Molecular Biology, 1-11.
Wossen, T., Spielman, D. J., Abdoulaye, T., & Kumar, P. (2020). The cassava seed system in Nigeria: opportunities and challenges for policy and regulatory reform. RTB Working Paper. No . 2020-2. ISSN: 2309-6586. 37 p.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Andrews Danquah, Emmanuel Plas Otwe, Isaac Kojo Angnangsoore Galyuon, Kofi Atiah, Clement Napo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
