Determination of genomic regions associated with early storage root formation and bulking in cassava.

Early cassava storage root formation and bulking is a medium of escape that farmers and processors tend to adopt in cases of abiotic and biotic stresses like drought, flood, and destruction by domestic animals. In this study, 220 cassava genotypes from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), local farmers (from farmer's field), and NextGen project were evaluated in three locations (Umudike, Benue, and Ikenne). The trials were laid out using a split plot in a randomized incomplete block design (alpha lattice) with two replications in 2 years.