Exploring genetic variability, heritability, and trait correlations in gari and eba quality from diverse cassava varieties in Nigeria

• Published in: Journal of the science of food and agriculture Vol. 104; no. 8; pp. 4860 - 4871
• Main Authors: Aghogho, Cynthia Idhigu, Kayondo, Siraj Ismail, Maziya‐Dixon, Bussie, Eleblu, Saviour JY, Asante, Isaac, Offei, Samuel K, Parkes, Elizabeth, Ikpan Smith, Andrew, Adesokan, Micheal, Abioye, Racheal, Chijioke, Ugo, Ogunpaimo, Kayode, Kulakow, Peter, Egesi, Chiedozie, Dufour, Dominique, Rabbi, Ismail Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01-06-2024; John Wiley and Sons, Limited
• Subjects: breeding for consumer preference traits; Bulk density; Cassava; cassava processed product quality; Color; Correlation; Dough; Dry matter; Food; Food products; genetic components; Genetic improvement; Genetic variability; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Genotypes; Hardness; Heritability; instrumental texture profile analysis; Manihot - chemistry; Manihot - genetics; Nigeria; Phenotype; Plant Breeding; Plant Roots - chemistry; Plant Roots - genetics; principal component analysis; Roots; Swelling; Texture; Nigeria; genetic components; breeding for consumer preference traits; instrumental texture profile analysis; cassava processed product quality; principal component analysis
• ISSN: 0022-5142; 1097-0010
• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.12889

BACKGROUND
Gari (especially in Nigeria) is an important West African food product made from cassava. It is an affordable, precooked, dry, easy to prepare and store food product. Eba is a stiff dough produced by reconstituting gari in hot water. Gari and eba quality is an important driver of varietal acceptance by farmers, processors, and consumers.
RESULTS
This study characterized the genetic variability, heritability, and correlations among quality‐related traits of fresh roots, gari, and eba. Thirty‐three diverse genotypes, including landraces and released and advanced breeding genotypes, were used in this study. In total, 40 traits categorized into fresh root quality, colour, functional, and texture properties trait groups were assessed. We observed broad phenotypic variability among the genotypes used in this study. Dry matter content had a positive (P < 0.05) correlation with gari%, bulk density and a negative correlation with eba hardness and gumminess. Broad‐sense heritability across all environments varied considerably among the different trait groups: 62% to 79% for fresh root quality, 0% to 96% for colour, 0% to 79% for functional and 0% to 57% for texture properties.
CONCLUSIONS
The stable broad‐sense heritability found for gari%, gari and eba colour, bulk density, swelling index, and hardness measured using instrumental texture profile analysis coupled with sufficient variability in the population indicate good potential for genetic improvement of these traits through recurrent selection. Also, it is possible to genetically improve gari%, bulk density, and swelling power by simultaneously improving the dry matter content of fresh roots. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.