Author(s): FUKUDA, W. M. G.; OLIVEIRA, L. A. de; PEREIRA, M. E. C.; CEBALLOS, H.; CARVALHO, J. L. V. de; NUTTI, M. R.; RODRIGUEZ, M. A. D.

Summary: This work aimed towards the improvement of the nutritional quality of cassava varieties regarding carotenoid, Fe and Zn contents, inside the HarvestPlus program scenario. Initially, a total of 1800 cassava accessions, from the germplasm bank at Embrapa Cassava & Tropical Fruits, were screened. Total carotenoid contents in one-year old roots of the 72 landraces selected ranged from 0.63 to 15.51 ìg.g-1 (fresh weight). However, it was detected that the accessions with higher carotenoid contents also presented elevated HCN levels. Thus, based on the low cyanogenic potential required for the consumption of boiled cassava roots (where carotenoid retention is higher), 7 landraces with carotenoid concentrations ranging from 1.50 to 4.49 ìg.g-1 were selected as parents. In the first generation (228 genotypes), hybrids with a carotenoid increment of more than 100% in relation to the parents were identified. Carotenoid levels in the population ranged from 0.87 to 10.47 ìg.g-1. Analyses of beta-carotenes revealed an approximated, but not linear, relation with the total carotenoid contents. In the second generation (136 hybrids), additional increment of carotenoid contents in relation to the first was verified, reaching the maxim concentration of 12.41 ìg.g-1. Regarding Fe and Zn contents, the 72 yellow landraces initially selected, as well as all the hybrids of the two generations, were evaluated by atomic absorption. Keeping low HCN and high carotenoid concentrations as priority, hybrids with more than 10 ìg.g-1 of carotenoids and with high levels of Zn and Fe were selected. These hybrids are currently under agronomical evaluations to be recommended as varieties.

Publication year: 2009

Types of publication: Annals and event proceedings (as a whole)

Unit: Embrapa Cassava & Fruits

Keywords: Biofortification program, Carotenoid, Manihot esculenta Crantz