Integrating end‐user preferences into breeding programmes for roots, tubers and bananas

Abstract

Summary “Consumers have their say: assessing preferred quality traits of roots, tubers and cooking bananas, and implications for breeding” special issue, brings together new knowledge about quality traits required for roots, tubers and bananas (RTB) varieties to successfully meet diverse user preferences and expectations, along the variety development and RTB value chains (production, processing, marketing, food preparation, consumption). Key RTB crops in sub‐Saharan Africa are cassava, yams, sweetpotatoes, potatoes and bananas/plantains. They are mainly consumed directly as boiled pieces or pounded in the form of smooth, not sticky, and stretchable dough. They are also stewed, steamed or fried. Cassava, the most widely grown RTB, is generally boiled, stewed or steamed in Eastern and Southern Africa, and in West and Central Africa is usually processed directly into derivative products, e.g. whole root fermentation through retting or heap fermentation; fermentation/dewatering of the mash. Biophysical and social knowledge presented in this issue help elaborate goals for both the processing unit operations (food scientist control) and variety traits (breeder control).

Beyond “Women's Traits”: Exploring How Gender, Social Difference, and Household Characteristics Influence Trait Preferences

“…These observations suggest a clear regional difference in trait preferences that can be related to the relative importance of different food products (Dufour et al, 2021). Specific regional (food) cultural factors (Ntumngia, 2012) should be considered when developing variety replacement strategies.…”

Profiling Cultivars Development in Kersting's Groundnut [Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Maréchal and Baudet] for Improved Yield, Higher Nutrient Content, and Adaptation to Current and Future Climates

“…This suggests that the genetic improvement of the crop should consider not only agroecologies conditions but also socioeconomic factors during the cultivars development process. Moreover, integrating end-users' (processors and customers) preferences is also important to better direct plant breeding objectives (Brouwer et al, 2015;Ragot et al, 2018;Dufour et al, 2021;Tchokponhoue et al, 2021). Hence, further investigations must be carried out across the cultivated areas, involving all stakeholders toward its efficient genetic improvement and end products dissemination.…”

Fifty years of a public cassava breeding program: evolution of breeding objectives, methods, and decision-making processes

“…One major bottleneck to breeding is the limited information regarding the genetic and biochemical basis determining root quality traits for different end uses, and suitable high-throughput phenotyping protocols. In contrast, potato breeders have made significant advances in understanding tuber quality traits and developing phenotyping tools that facilitate selection (Dufour et al 2021 ; Morris and Taylor 2019 ; Sharma et al 2020 ). The project RTBfoods: Breeding Roots, Tubers and Banana products for end-user preferences ( https://rtbfoods.cirad.fr ) is an ambitious initiative to elucidate basic information regarding root quality traits.…”

“…The project RTBfoods: Breeding Roots, Tubers and Banana products for end-user preferences ( https://rtbfoods.cirad.fr ) is an ambitious initiative to elucidate basic information regarding root quality traits. Several research articles regarding root quality traits and post-harvest processing have recently been published (Alamu et al 2021 ; Bechoff et al 2018 ; Dufour et al 2021 ; Escobar et al 2021 ; Goddard et al 2015 ; Iragaba et al 2021 ; Luna et al 2021 ; Ndjouenkeu et al 2021 ; Teeken et al 2018 , 2021 ; Thiele et al 2021 ; Tran et al 2021 ). The availability of this critical knowledge and reliable high-throughput phenotyping protocols will improve the efficiency of breeding for root quality traits.…”