Cassava biotechnology research
Crop Improvement
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important starchy food crop in the tropics and subtropics. Our cassava projects focus on capacity development of cassava transformation, specific gene and promoter discovery, sustainable disease resistance and quality improvement. Several routine biotechnology tools have been established for this recalcitrant tropical crop at ETH Zürich. As a member of “BioCassava Plus Consortium”, we dedicate our research to produce transgenic cassava with elevated resistance to cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), enhanced protein content and improved post-harvest storage. By collaborating with international institutions, e.g. Witwatersrand University (Johannesburg, South Africa), BECA (Nairobi, Kenya), IITA-Nairobi (Nairobi, Kenya), MARI (Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania), we help transferring the technologies to regions where it is currently needed. The cassava research group is also applying "OMICS" technologies in order to investigate several fundamental aspects of cassava biology and stress responses (i.e. root development, drought response, post-harvest physiological deterioration).
Research topics
Biofortification
Disease resistance
Drought tolerance
Promoter isolations
Post-harvest physiological deterioration
Storage root development
Interdisciplinary
Metabolic pathway engineering
Proteomics tools applied to biotic and abiotic stress resistance
Elaboration of transformation protocol for recalcitrant crops
Technology transfer to developing countries
