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Classification of cassava into bitter" and "cool" in Malawi: from farmers perception to characterization by molecular markers"

dc.contributor.authorMkumbira, J.
dc.contributor.authorChiwona-Karltun, L.
dc.contributor.authorLagercrantz, U.
dc.contributor.authorMahungu, N.M.
dc.contributor.authorSaka, J.
dc.contributor.authorMhone, A.
dc.contributor.authorBokanga, M.
dc.contributor.authorBrimer, L.
dc.contributor.authorGullberg, U.
dc.contributor.authorRosling, H.
dc.date.accessioned2019-12-04T11:23:51Z
dc.date.available2019-12-04T11:23:51Z
dc.date.issued2003-06
dc.identifier.citationMkumbira, J., Chiwona-Karltun, L., Lagercrantz, U., Mahungu, N.M., Saka, J., Mhone, A., ... & Rosling, H. (2003). Classification of cassava into ‘bitter’and ‘cool’in Malawi: from farmers' perception to characterisation by molecular markers. Euphytica, 132(1), 7-22.
dc.identifier.issn0014-2336
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/4186
dc.description.abstractCassava roots, a major food in Africa, contain cyanogenic glucosides that may cause toxic effects. Malawian women farmers considered fields of seemingly similar cassava plants to be mixes of both ‘cool’ and ‘bitter’ cultivars. They regard roots from ‘cool’ cultivars as non-toxic. Roots of ‘bitter’ were considered to require extensive traditional processing done by women to be safe for consumption. But curiously, these women farmers preferred ‘bitter’ cultivars since toxicity confers protection against theft, which was a serious threat to the food security of their families. We studied how well these farmers comprehend the effects of genetic variations in cassava when dealing with cyanogenesis in this complex system. Using molecular markers we show that most plants farmers identified as belonging to a particular named cultivar had a genotype typical of that cultivar. Farmers' ethno-classification into ‘cool’ and ‘bitter’ cultivars corresponded to a genetic sub-division of the typical genotypes of the most common cultivars, with four-fold higher cyanogenic glucoside levels in the bitter cultivars. Examining morphology, farmers distinguished genotypes better than did the investigators when using a standard botanical key. Undoubtedly, these women farmers grasp sufficiently the genetic diversity of cassava with regard to cyanogenesis to simultaneously benefit from it and avoid its dangers. Consequently, acyanogenic cassava – the breeding of which is an announced good of some cassava genetic improvement programmes – is not a priority to these farmers. Advances in molecular genetics can help improve food supply in Africa by rapid micropropagation, marker assisted breeding and introduction of transgenic varieties, but can also help to elucidate tropical small-scale farmers' needs and skills.
dc.description.sponsorshipSwedish International Development Cooperation Agency
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectCassava
dc.subjectCultivars
dc.subjectCyanogenic Glycosides
dc.subjectMolecular Markers
dc.subjectFarmers
dc.subjectPerception
dc.subjectGenotypes
dc.titleClassification of cassava into bitter" and "cool" in Malawi: from farmers perception to characterization by molecular markers"
dc.typeJournal Article
dc.typeJournal Article
dc.description.versionPeer Review
cg.contributor.crpRoots, Tubers and Bananas
cg.contributor.affiliationBvumbwe Agriculture Research Station, Malawi
cg.contributor.affiliationSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences
cg.contributor.affiliationKarolinska Institute
cg.contributor.affiliationUppsala University
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
cg.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Malawi
cg.contributor.affiliationRoyal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionSouthern Africa
cg.coverage.countryMalawi
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and developing country institute
cg.iitasubjectCassava
cg.accessibilitystatusLimited Access
local.dspaceid99752


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