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Otun S, Escrich A, Achilonu I, Rauwane M, Lerma-Escalera JA, Morones-Ramírez JR, Rios-Solis L. The future of cassava in the era of biotechnology in Southern Africa. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2022; 43:594-612. [PMID: 35369831 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2048791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a major staple food and the world's fourth source of calories. Biotechnological contributions to enhancing this crop, its advances, and present issues must be assessed regularly. Functional genomics, genomic-assisted breeding, molecular tools, and genome editing technologies, among other biotechnological approaches, have helped improve the potential of economically important crops like cassava by addressing some of its significant constraints, such as nutrient deficiency, toxicity, poor starch quality, disease susceptibility, low yield capacity, and postharvest deterioration. However, the development, improvement, and subsequent acceptance of the improved cultivars have been challenging and have required holistic approaches to solving them. This article provides an update of trends and gaps in cassava biotechnology, reviewing the relevant strategies used to improve cassava crops and highlighting the potential risk and acceptability of improved cultivars in Southern Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Otun
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Protein Structure-Function and Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ainoa Escrich
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ikechukwu Achilonu
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Protein Structure-Function and Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Molemi Rauwane
- Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, Science Campus, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | - Jordy Alexis Lerma-Escalera
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Apodaca, Mexico.,Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
| | - José Rubén Morones-Ramírez
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Apodaca, Mexico.,Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
| | - Leonardo Rios-Solis
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology (SynthSys), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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2
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Fathima AA, Sanitha M, Tripathi L, Muiruri S. Cassava (
Manihot esculenta
) dual use for food and bioenergy: A review. Food Energy Secur 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/fes3.380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anwar Aliya Fathima
- Department of Bioinformatics Saveetha School of Engineering Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences Chennai India
| | - Mary Sanitha
- Department of Bioinformatics Saveetha School of Engineering Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences Chennai India
| | - Leena Tripathi
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Nairobi Kenya
| | - Samwel Muiruri
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Nairobi Kenya
- Department of Plant Sciences Kenyatta University Nairobi Kenya
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3
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Diaz Tatis P, López Carrascal CE. YUCA: PAN Y CARNE, UNA ALTERNATIVA POTENCIAL PARA HACER FRENTE AL HAMBRE OCULTA. ACTA BIOLÓGICA COLOMBIANA 2021. [DOI: 10.15446/abc.v26n2.84569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Uno de los retos que encara la humanidad es asegurar la alimentación y la adecuada nutrición para los cerca de ocho billones de habitantes del planeta. Las raíces de yuca constituyen la cuarta fuente más importante de calorías para la población humana siendo uno de los pilares de la seguridad alimentaria. Las raíces de yuca no poseen atributos nutricionales adecuados. Aunque existen variedades con valores relativamente altos de estos compuestos, sus valores están lejos de los necesarios para asegurar los requerimientos mínimos de la población humana. Las hojas de yuca poseen valores altos de contenido proteico, minerales y vitaminas, por lo que representan una fuente nutricional alternativa. Sin embargo, el consumo de hojas de yuca en América Latina es escaso o nulo como consecuencia de los altos niveles de cianuro que poseen. En algunos países de África y Asia las hojas se consumen a través de diversas recetas que incluye su cocción, eliminando así una gran cantidad del contenido cianógeno. En esta revisión se presenta un panorama general de la importancia nutricional de la yuca, las diferentes estrategias de mejoramiento genético clásico y no convencional destinados a incrementar los contenidos nutricionales de raíces y la importancia de la explotación de la variabilidad intrínseca de la yuca como una fuente de variedades y genes que puedan contribuir a la implementación de estrategias encaminadas a desarrollar materiales con los requerimientos nutricionales adecuados. Finalmente, se presenta el potencial que tienen las hojas de yuca para ser empleadas dentro de programas complementarios destinados a mejorar la calidad nutricional de la población humana.
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4
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Narayanan N, Beyene G, Chauhan RD, Gaitán-Solís E, Gehan J, Butts P, Siritunga D, Okwuonu I, Woll A, Jiménez-Aguilar DM, Boy E, Grusak MA, Anderson P, Taylor NJ. Biofortification of field-grown cassava by engineering expression of an iron transporter and ferritin. Nat Biotechnol 2019; 37:144-151. [PMID: 30692693 PMCID: PMC6784895 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-018-0002-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Less than 10% of the estimated average requirement (EAR) for iron and zinc is provided by consumption of storage roots of the staple crop cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in West African human populations. We used genetic engineering to improve mineral micronutrient concentrations in cassava. Overexpression of the Arabidopsis thaliana vacuolar iron transporter VIT1 in cassava accumulated three- to seven-times-higher levels of iron in transgenic storage roots than nontransgenic controls in confined field trials in Puerto Rico. Plants engineered to coexpress a mutated A. thaliana iron transporter (IRT1) and A. thaliana ferritin (FER1) accumulated iron levels 7-18 times higher and zinc levels 3-10 times higher than those in nontransgenic controls in the field. Growth parameters and storage-root yields were unaffected by transgenic fortification in our field data. Measures of retention and bioaccessibility of iron and zinc in processed transgenic cassava indicated that IRT1 + FER1 plants could provide 40-50% of the EAR for iron and 60-70% of the EAR for zinc in 1- to 6-year-old children and nonlactating, nonpregnant West African women.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Getu Beyene
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | | | - Jackson Gehan
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Paula Butts
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Ihuoma Okwuonu
- National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria
| | - Arthur Woll
- Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - Erick Boy
- Harvest Plus/International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Michael A Grusak
- USDA-ARS Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Paul Anderson
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Nigel J Taylor
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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5
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Izquierdo P, Astudillo C, Blair MW, Iqbal AM, Raatz B, Cichy KA. Meta-QTL analysis of seed iron and zinc concentration and content in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2018; 131:1645-1658. [PMID: 29752522 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-018-3104-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Twelve meta-QTL for seed Fe and Zn concentration and/or content were identified from 87 QTL originating from seven population grown in sixteen field trials. These meta-QTL include 2 specific to iron, 2 specific to zinc and 8 that co-localize for iron and zinc concentrations and/or content. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important legume for human consumption worldwide and it is an important source of microelements, especially iron and zinc. Bean biofortification breeding programs develop new varieties with high levels of Fe and Zn targeted for countries with human micronutrient deficiencies. Biofortification efforts thus far have relied on phenotypic selection of raw seed mineral concentrations in advanced generations. While numerous quantitative trait loci (QTL) studies have been conducted to identify genomic regions associated with increased Fe and Zn concentration in seeds, these results have yet to be employed for marker-assisted breeding. The objective of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis from seven QTL studies in Andean and Middle American intra- and inter-gene pool populations to identify the regions in the genome that control the Fe and Zn levels in seeds. Two meta-QTL specific to Fe and two meta-QTL specific to Zn were identified. Additionally, eight Meta QTL that co-localized for Fe and Zn concentration and/or content were identified across seven chromosomes. The Fe and Zn shared meta-QTL could be useful candidates for marker-assisted breeding to simultaneously increase seed Fe and Zn. The physical positions for 12 individual meta-QTL were identified and within five of the meta-QTL, candidate genes were identified from six gene families that have been associated with transport of iron and zinc in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Izquierdo
- Department of Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Carolina Astudillo
- Department of Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Matthew W Blair
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Asif M Iqbal
- Department of Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Bodo Raatz
- International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Cali, Colombia
| | - Karen A Cichy
- Department of Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Sugarbeet and Bean Research Unit, USDA-ARS East Lansing, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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6
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Utsumi Y, Utsumi C, Tanaka M, Ha VT, Matsui A, Takahashi S, Seki M. Formation of friable embryogenic callus in cassava is enhanced under conditions of reduced nitrate, potassium and phosphate. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180736. [PMID: 28806727 PMCID: PMC5555663 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is an important research tool for the genetic improvement of cassava. The induction of friable embryogenic callus (FEC) is considered as a key step in cassava transformation. In the present study, the media composition was optimized for enhancing the FEC induction, and the effect of the optimized medium on gene expression was evaluated. In relative comparison to MS medium, results demonstrated that using a medium with reducing nutrition (a 10-fold less concentration of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate), the increased amount of vitamin B1 (10 mg/L) and the use of picrolam led to reprogram non-FEC to FEC. Gene expression analyses revealed that FEC on modified media increased the expression of genes related to the regulation of polysaccharide biosynthesis and breakdown of cell wall components in comparison to FEC on normal CIM media, whereas the gene expression associated with energy flux was not dramatically altered. It is hypothesized that we reprogram non-FEC to FEC under low nitrogen, potassium and phosphate and high vitamin B1. These findings were more effective in inducing FEC formation than the previous protocol. It might contribute to development of an efficient transformation strategy in cassava.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Utsumi
- Plant Genomic Network Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Chikako Utsumi
- Plant Genomic Network Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology (JST), 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Maho Tanaka
- Plant Genomic Network Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Vu The Ha
- Plant Genomic Network Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Akihiro Matsui
- Plant Genomic Network Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Satoshi Takahashi
- Plant Genomic Network Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Motoaki Seki
- Plant Genomic Network Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology (JST), 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, 641–12 Maioka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
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7
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Tan GZH, Das Bhowmik SS, Hoang TML, Karbaschi MR, Johnson AAT, Williams B, Mundree SG. Finger on the Pulse: Pumping Iron into Chickpea. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:1755. [PMID: 29081785 PMCID: PMC5646179 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Iron deficiency is a major problem in both developing and developed countries, and much of this can be attributed to insufficient dietary intake. Over the past decades several measures, such as supplementation and food fortification, have helped to alleviate this problem. However, their associated costs limit their accessibility and effectiveness, particularly amongst the financially constrained. A more affordable and sustainable option that can be implemented alongside existing measures is biofortification. To date, much work has been invested into staples like cereals and root crops-this has culminated in the successful generation of high iron-accumulating lines in rice and pearl millet. More recently, pulses have gained attention as targets for biofortification. Being secondary staples rich in protein, they are a nutritional complement to the traditional starchy staples. Despite the relative youth of this interest, considerable advances have already been made concerning the biofortification of pulses. Several studies have been conducted in bean, chickpea, lentil, and pea to assess existing germplasm for high iron-accumulating traits. However, little is known about the molecular workings behind these traits, particularly in a leguminous context, and biofortification via genetic modification (GM) remains to be attempted. This review examines the current state of the iron biofortification in pulses, particularly chickpea. The challenges concerning biofortification in pulses are also discussed. Specifically, the potential application of transgenic technology is explored, with focus on the genes that have been successfully used in biofortification efforts in rice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Z. H. Tan
- Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sudipta S. Das Bhowmik
- Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Thi M. L. Hoang
- Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Mohammad R. Karbaschi
- Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Brett Williams
- Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sagadevan G. Mundree
- Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- *Correspondence: Sagadevan G. Mundree
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8
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Vasconcelos MW, Gruissem W, Bhullar NK. Iron biofortification in the 21st century: setting realistic targets, overcoming obstacles, and new strategies for healthy nutrition. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2016; 44:8-15. [PMID: 27780080 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Plant-based foods offer a wide range of nutrients that are essential for human and animal health. Among these nutrients, iron stands out as one of the most important micronutrients. Increasing the iron content in many staple and non-staple plant foods continues to be a goal of many scientists around the world. However, the success of such initiatives has sometimes fallen short of their expected targets. In this review we highlight the most recent and promising results that have contributed to increasing the iron content in different crops. We also discuss methods that to date have been used to reach iron biofortification goals and new strategies that we believe are most promising for crop biofortification in the future. Plant anatomical, physiological and metabolic hurdles still need to be tackled for making progress on further increasing currently reached levels of micronutrient improvements. New strategies need to take into account growing environmental challenges that may constrain biofortification efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta W Vasconcelos
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua Arquiteto Lobão Vital, Apartado 2511, 4202-401 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Wilhelm Gruissem
- Department of Biology, Plant Biotechnology, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Navreet K Bhullar
- Department of Biology, Plant Biotechnology, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
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9
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Beyene G, Chauhan RD, Wagaba H, Moll T, Alicai T, Miano D, Carrington JC, Taylor NJ. Loss of CMD2-mediated resistance to cassava mosaic disease in plants regenerated through somatic embryogenesis. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2016; 17:1095-110. [PMID: 26662210 PMCID: PMC5021159 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Revised: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) are the two most important viral diseases affecting cassava production in Africa. Three sources of resistance are employed to combat CMD: polygenic recessive resistance, termed CMD1, the dominant monogenic type, named CMD2, and the recently characterized CMD3. The farmer-preferred cultivar TME 204 carries inherent resistance to CMD mediated by CMD2, but is highly susceptible to CBSD. Selected plants of TME 204 produced for RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated resistance to CBSD were regenerated via somatic embryogenesis and tested in confined field trials in East Africa. Although micropropagated, wild-type TME 204 plants exhibited the expected levels of resistance, all plants regenerated via somatic embryogenesis were found to be highly susceptible to CMD. Glasshouse studies using infectious clones of East African cassava mosaic virus conclusively demonstrated that the process of somatic embryogenesis used to regenerate cassava caused the resulting plants to become susceptible to CMD. This phenomenon could be replicated in the two additional CMD2-type varieties TME 3 and TME 7, but the CMD1-type cultivar TMS 30572 and the CMD3-type cultivar TMS 98/0505 maintained resistance to CMD after passage through somatic embryogenesis. Data are presented to define the specific tissue culture step at which the loss of CMD resistance occurs and to show that the loss of CMD2-mediated resistance is maintained across vegetative generations. These findings reveal new aspects of the widely used technique of somatic embryogenesis, and the stability of field-level resistance in CMD2-type cultivars presently grown by farmers in East Africa, where CMD pressure is high.
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Affiliation(s)
- Getu Beyene
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA
| | - Raj Deepika Chauhan
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA
| | - Henry Wagaba
- National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, P. O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Theodore Moll
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA
| | - Titus Alicai
- National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, P. O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Douglas Miano
- University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 29053, Nairobi, post code 00625, Kenya
| | - James C Carrington
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA
| | - Nigel J Taylor
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA
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10
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Chavarriaga-Aguirre P, Brand A, Medina A, Prías M, Escobar R, Martinez J, Díaz P, López C, Roca WM, Tohme J. The potential of using biotechnology to improve cassava: a review. IN VITRO CELLULAR & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY. PLANT : JOURNAL OF THE TISSUE CULTURE ASSOCIATION 2016; 52:461-478. [PMID: 27818605 PMCID: PMC5071364 DOI: 10.1007/s11627-016-9776-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The importance of cassava as the fourth largest source of calories in the world requires that contributions of biotechnology to improving this crop, advances and current challenges, be periodically reviewed. Plant biotechnology offers a wide range of opportunities that can help cassava become a better crop for a constantly changing world. We therefore review the state of knowledge on the current use of biotechnology applied to cassava cultivars and its implications for breeding the crop into the future. The history of the development of the first transgenic cassava plant serves as the basis to explore molecular aspects of somatic embryogenesis and friable embryogenic callus production. We analyze complex plant-pathogen interactions to profit from such knowledge to help cassava fight bacterial diseases and look at candidate genes possibly involved in resistance to viruses and whiteflies-the two most important traits of cassava. The review also covers the analyses of main achievements in transgenic-mediated nutritional improvement and mass production of healthy plants by tissue culture and synthetic seeds. Finally, the perspectives of using genome editing and the challenges associated to climate change for further improving the crop are discussed. During the last 30 yr, great advances have been made in cassava using biotechnology, but they need to scale out of the proof of concept to the fields of cassava growers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Chavarriaga-Aguirre
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
| | - Alejandro Brand
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
| | - Adriana Medina
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
| | - Mónica Prías
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
| | - Roosevelt Escobar
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
| | - Juan Martinez
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
| | - Paula Díaz
- Biology Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 30 No. 45-03. Edificio 421, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Camilo López
- Biology Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 30 No. 45-03. Edificio 421, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Willy M Roca
- International Potato Center-CIP, Av. La Molina 1895, Lima 12, P.O. Box 1558, Lima, Perú
| | - Joe Tohme
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
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11
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Narayanan N, Beyene G, Chauhan RD, Gaitán-Solis E, Grusak MA, Taylor N, Anderson P. Overexpression of Arabidopsis VIT1 increases accumulation of iron in cassava roots and stems. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2015; 240:170-81. [PMID: 26475197 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2015.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Iron is extremely abundant in the soil, but its uptake in plants is limited due to low solubility in neutral or alkaline soils. Plants can rely on rhizosphere acidification to increase iron solubility. AtVIT1 was previously found to be involved in mediating vacuolar sequestration of iron, which indicates a potential application for iron biofortification in crop plants. Here, we have overexpressed AtVIT1 in the starchy root crop cassava using a patatin promoter. Under greenhouse conditions, iron levels in mature cassava storage roots showed 3-4 times higher values when compared with wild-type plants. Significantly, the expression of AtVIT1 showed a positive correlation with the increase in iron concentration of storage roots. Conversely, young leaves of AtVIT1 transgenic plants exhibit characteristics of iron deficiency such as interveinal chlorosis of leaves (yellowing) and lower iron concentration when compared with the wild type plants. Interestingly, the AtVIT1 transgenic plants showed 4 and 16 times higher values of iron concentration in the young stem and stem base tissues, respectively. AtVIT1 transgenic plants also showed 2-4 times higher values of iron content when compared with wild-type plants, with altered partitioning of iron between source and sink tissues. These results demonstrate vacuolar iron sequestration as a viable transgenic strategy to biofortify crops and to help eliminate micronutrient malnutrition in at-risk human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narayanan Narayanan
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N. Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA.
| | - Getu Beyene
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N. Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
| | - Raj Deepika Chauhan
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N. Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
| | - Eliana Gaitán-Solis
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N. Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
| | - Michael A Grusak
- USDA-ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nigel Taylor
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N. Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
| | - Paul Anderson
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N. Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
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Antosiewicz DM, Barabasz A, Siemianowski O. Phenotypic and molecular consequences of overexpression of metal-homeostasis genes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2014; 5:80. [PMID: 24639682 PMCID: PMC3945530 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2013] [Accepted: 02/20/2014] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Metal hyperaccumulating plants are able to store very large amounts of metals in their shoots. There are a number of reasons why it is important to be able to introduce metal hyperaccumulation traits into non-accumulating species (e.g., phytoremediation or biofortification in minerals) and to engineer a desired level of accumulation and distribution of metals. Metal homeostasis genes have therefore been used for these purposes. Engineered accumulation levels, however, have often been far from expected, and transgenic plants frequently display phenotypic features not related to the physiological function of the introduced gene. In this review, we focus on an aspect often neglected in research on plants expressing metal homeostasis genes: the specific regulation of endogenous metal homeostasis genes of the host plant in response to the transgene-induced imbalance of the metal status. These modifications constitute one of the major mechanisms involved in the generation of the plant's phenotype, including unexpected characteristics. Interestingly, activation of so-called "metal cross-homeostasis" has emerged as a factor of primary importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danuta M. Antosiewicz
- *Correspondence: Danuta M. Antosiewicz, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Experimental Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa str. 1, 02-096 Warszawa, Poland e-mail:
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Leyva-Guerrero E, Narayanan NN, Ihemere U, Sayre RT. Iron and protein biofortification of cassava: lessons learned. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2012; 23:257-64. [PMID: 22226461 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2011.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2011] [Revised: 10/26/2011] [Accepted: 12/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Over two hundred and fifty million Africans rely on the starchy root crop cassava (Manihot esculenta) as their primary source of calories. Cassava roots, however, have the lowest protein:energy ratio of all the world's major staple crops. Furthermore, a typical cassava-based diet provides less than 10-20% of the required amounts of iron, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin E. The BioCassava Plus program employed modern biotechnologies to improve the health of Africans through development and delivery of novel cassava germplasm with increased nutrient levels. Here we describe the development of molecular strategies and their outcomes to meet minimum daily allowances for protein and iron in cassava based diets. We demonstrate that cyanogens play a central role in cassava nitrogen metabolism and that strategies employed to increase root protein levels result in reduced cyanogen levels in roots. We also demonstrate that enhancing root iron uptake has an impact on the expression of genes that regulate iron homeostasis in multiple tissues. These observations demonstrate the complex metabolic interactions involved in enhancing targeted nutrient levels in plants and identify potential new strategies for further enhancing nutrient levels in cassava.
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