GWAS in 3,000 cassava clones pinpoints genomic regions controlling root carotenoid and dry-matter content
A preprint from Brazil's Embrapa breeding programme applies multiple GWAS models to one of the largest cassava phenotyping datasets assembled, identifying loci associated with nutritional quality traits important for food security.
A bioRxiv preprint from researchers at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) describes a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of root quality traits in cassava (Manihot esculenta), a major staple crop across tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The study analysed 3,043 cassava clones phenotyped across 188 multi-environment trials conducted in Brazil between 2011 and 2022, genotyped using genotyping-by-sequencing (27,045 SNPs) and diversity array technology markers. The researchers applied multiple GWAS model frameworks to identify genomic regions associated with carotenoid content — relevant to vitamin A biofortification — and dry matter content, which affects processing quality and caloric value.
The scale of the phenotyping data and the comparison of GWAS model approaches provides a methodological reference for crop-genomics researchers working with structurally complex breeding populations. The work is directly relevant to cassava biofortification efforts and marker-assisted selection in breeding programmes targeting nutritional improvement. As a preprint, the findings await peer review.
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Primary sourcePreprint bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2026-06-15Uncovering genomic regions controlling root quality traits in Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) using different GWAS models