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. 2025 Dec 10;14(24):3762.
doi: 10.3390/plants14243762.

Improvement of Cassava Varieties for High Nutritional Quality Adapted to the Pacific and Andean Regions in Colombia

Eberto Rodríguez  1 , Amparo Rosero  2 , José Ives Perez  3 , Lina Garavito  1 , Juan Carlos González  4 , Karen Alarcón  4 , Nelson Morante  5 , Sandra Salazar  5 , John Belalcazar  5 , Hernán Ceballos  5
Affiliations

Improvement of Cassava Varieties for High Nutritional Quality Adapted to the Pacific and Andean Regions in Colombia

Eberto Rodríguez et al. Plants (Basel). .

Abstract

Increased levels of pro-vitamin A carotenoids in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots is a valuable contribution toward reducing widely spread vitamin A deficiency in vulnerable human populations worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate five yellow-fleshed cassava genotypes with higher β-carotene contents for fresh consumption in the Cauca River Valley and the Pacific regions of Colombia. Agronomic performance, productivity, and culinary quality were assessed across four locations. The results showed that two yellow-fleshed genotypes had adequate performance in the subregions. SM3677-74 was identified for the Cauca River Valley subregion, and GM3650-51 for the Pacific subregion. These genotypes showed competitive performance compared to the regional checks (often outperforming them) and showed good adaptability to the target environments. The excellent productivity and enhanced nutritional quality (>5 µg/g β-carotene and >11 µg/g total carotenes) of these genotypes make them suitable for potential for release as new varieties in those specific subregions. The experimental genotypes demonstrated acceptable quality for consumption, with low HCN content (less than 50 µg/g) and cooking time was <30 min. The successful adaptation and superiority of improved cassava genotypes ensure the future availability of carotenes-enhanced cassava varieties the Pacific and Andean Regions in Colombia.

Keywords: HCN; biofortification; cooking time; cyanogenic potential; pro-vitamin A carotenoids; β-carotene.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of mean values for (a) fresh root yield (FRY); (b) dry matter content (DMC); and (c) dry root yield (DRY) among six cassava genotypes evaluated in the Pacific and CRV subregions. Mean values with the same letter are not significantly different at p ≤ 0.05 (Tukey’s test).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Visual illustration of plant type, roots, and boiled cassava appearance of promising genotypes. (a) SM3677-74, (b) GM3650-51, (c) P13.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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