Jiong Fu

Hainan Institute of Troppical Agricultural Resources (HITAR), Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Bioscience Methods, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 2   doi: 10.5376/bm.2024.15.0008
Received: 03 Feb., 2024    Accepted: 14 Mar., 2024    Published: 01 Apr., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Lu H., and Li J., 2024, Innovative breeding techniques for cassava: the role of doubled haploids and genetic engineering, Bioscience Method, 15(2): 66-75 (doi: 10.5376/bm.2024.15.0008)

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a crucial crop for food security in tropical and subtropical regions. However, its genetic improvement is hindered by its long breeding cycle and heterozygous nature. This study explores innovative breeding techniques, focusing on the role of doubled haploids (DH) and genetic engineering in accelerating cassava breeding. Doubled haploid technology, which enables the rapid production of homozygous lines, has been successfully applied in various crops and holds promise for cassava improvement. Techniques such as gynogenesis, another culture, and interspecific pollination are discussed for their potential to induce DHs in cassava. Additionally, advancements in genetic engineering, including CRISPR/Cas9 and other gene-editing tools, are examined for their role in enhancing DH production and incorporating desirable traits. The integration of these innovative techniques could significantly shorten the breeding cycle and improve cassava's adaptability to changing environmental conditions. This study highlights the current state of DH and genetic engineering technologies, their applications in cassava breeding, and future directions for research.

Cassava; Doubled haploids; Genetic engineering; Gynogenesis; CRISPR/Cas9