Biofortification of Cassava

Abstract: Cassava, Manihot esculenta, is the third most important staple crop in tropical re- gions. Cassava is a fibrous root that is tolerant to drought and has a flexible harvest period making it a reliable crop under poorer farming conditions (FAO, 2008). The content of provitamin A, also known as β-carotene, is unfortunately low in cassava even though there are varieties bred for a higher content. Since vitamin A deficiency, VAD, is a large problem of the regions where cassava is of major importance for calo- rie intake, an increase of the β-carotene content would be of great interest to address malnutrition. The main idea of this project is to increase the amount of β-carotene accumulated in the cassava root. This is accomplished by using the knowledge of the cassava genome and the carotenoid pathway, in order to block specific enzymes through genome editing techniques . The trials will though take many years and this Master Thesis will cover only a fragment of the entire project. Cassava needs to grow in the field for at least nine months, which will create a long time frame to consider. After creating genetic constructs and transforming the cassava plants, the carotenoid and starch content will be analysed. Methods for analysing starch and carotenoids for cassava were developed during this Master Thesis by literature research and laboratory trials.