Cassava genetic improvement: Theory and practice

Cassava breeders rely on a wide range of information to succeed in their task of developing genetically superior varieties for adoption in the production, processing and market value chains. The published literature on cassava has risen exponentially in the past quarter century, and provides a fundamental basis for application of scientifically sound research practices. Yet, most publications are rather narrowly focused, and the task of integrating knowledge and techniques across a vast literature for purposes of planning and executing a breeding program can be overwhelming. Unlike for most major crops, there has not been a comprehensive treatment of the fundamentals of cassava breeding from a practical and theoretical standpoint. This field guide aims to fill that gap, as a tool aimed mainly at applied cassava breeders. It will also provide support for those many research programs that collaborate with breeders, such as physiologists, agronomists, soil scientists, plant pathologists, entomologists, economists and social scientists, among others.