OUTPUT 8 Collaboration with other institutions, scientific meetings, and publications. Activity 8.1 Support national programs that have traditionally collaborated with CIAT in the development and improvement of cassava. Rationale: CIAT has the responsibility to contribute with cassava research worldwide. In the past, this was achieved through the collaboration of National Agriculture Research Programs (NARs), and in the case of Africa, with the valuable collaboration with IITA. This scenario has changed drastically through the last decade, when the NARs in most of the tropical countries weakened consistently. However, new institutions and partners are assuming a leading role and CIAT is actively searching for these new partners. In this activity, at least for Latin America, we are closely collaborating with CLAYUCA. In the implementation of industrial uses of cassava, because of the convenience of our location, most of the validation and adaptive research is carried out in Colombia. Once the technology (for instance, for the artificial drying of cassava roots) is evaluated and offers acceptable results, it can be moved out to other countries. This strategy implies that a considerable portion of our research is carried out in Colombia. However, this does not imply that cassava projects at CIAT are restricting their activities only to Colombia. Specific Objectives: a) To promote the use of cassava and the adoption of new technologies and germplasm by cassava growing countries of the world. b) To contribute to the training of personnel involved with cassava research. c) To identify new partners in each country. Results A major thrust in CIAT’s strategy to achieve the stated objectives has been through training and visits to NARs, in addition to the provision of germplasm described in Output 3 to Output 7. A summary of the most important events in which personnel from the project participated is provided. Although some of these events were scientific meetings, it should be pointed out that the list involves only those events leading to the development of research proposal or else were part of ongoing collaborative efforts. There are many more specific activities and contributions that cannot be mentioned because of their informal nature. An important activity in this regard is the continuous consulting from producers, students, researchers and processors from Colombia and other countries. An important amount of energy is dedicated to satisfy the demand for information and products through these requests. Output 8-1 2004 Annual Report Table 8.1. Events where personnel from cassava breeding project participated for the development or execution of research proposals. Additional events were attended by personnel working in the areas of entomology, plant pathology, and biotechnology and are not listed here to avoid duplications. Date Event Location 26-01/29-01 Implementation of HarvestPlus project with World Vision. Haiti * 29-01/02-02 Implementation of Doubled Haploids project with INIVIT. Cuba * 28-02/06-03 Workshop for implementation of project on mutagenesis at Vienna, Austria IAEA. 19-02 Workshop on cassava for animal feeding and industrial Popayán, Colombia uses. 16-04 Workshop on cassava for animal feeding in dairy Barranquilla, Colombia production. 02-05/07-05 HarvestPlus meeting on reaching end user at IBPGR. Rome, Italy 10-05/11-05 Cassava starch quality symposium. Thailand 12-05/13-05 Implementation of Doubled Haploids project with MOA. Thailand * 13-05/16-05 Implementation of Doubled Haploids and HarvestPlus Vietnam * projects. 16-05/18-05 Prospective visit to Laos. Laos * 31-05/01-06 PAC Meeting for the HarvestPlus project. Cali, Colombia 24-08-28-08 Implementation of Doubled Haploids and HarvestPlus Cruz das Almas, Brazil projects. 4-10/8-10 Workshop on artificial drying of cassava. Cali, Colombia 01-11/05-11 Participation at the ISTRC-African Branch Workshop. Mombasa, Kenya 08-11/10-11 Participation at the ECHO conference Fort Myers, FL, USA 14-11/18-11 Participation at the IVACG conference Lima, Peru * Different locations in the country Table 8.2. Visitors that have spent more than two weeks involved in diverse areas of interest related to cassava. Name of Vistor Country Main Interest Claire Hershey USA Write a book on cassava breeding Claudia Ferreira EMBRAPA - Brazil Molecular markers. Leonardo Pastor Tovar Univ. Exp. Guayana - Venezuela Cassava breeding Manuel Valdivie ICA- Cuba Animal Feeding Zou Jixin CATAS- (Hainan, China) Molecular markers. Project IP3: improving cassava for the developing world Output 8-2 In addition the project has received the visit of different scientists in activities that can be described as training. However, the nature of these visits was very diverse and varied from graduate students to visiting scientist. Table 8.2 lists the personnel that visited the IP3 project for more than two weeks during 2004. Table 8.3 provides a list of the students enrolled in different degree programs from different universities that continued to be associated with the project or begun his/her association during the current year. It should be emphasized that these are the students enrolled in cassava breeding or genetics. Plant pathology and plant entomology students are not reported herein to avoid duplications. Table 8.3. Training of students (undergraduate and graduate) doing their research work at within the cassava breeding project. Name University Genre Degree Amparo Rosero Universidad Nacional de Colombia Female Undergraduate Ana María Correa Universidad del Valle Female Undergraduate Angie Ayala Universidad del Valle Female Undergraduate Carlos H. Victoria Universidad San Buenaventura Male Undergraduate María E. Buitrago Universidad del Valle Female Undergraduate Milena Sepúlveda Universidad Nacional de Colombia Female Undergraduate Paola Alfonso Universidad Javeriana Female Undergraduate Andrés Bolaños Universidad Nacional de Colombia Male M.Sc. Martha I. Moreno Universidad del Valle Female M.Sc. Adriana Tofiño Universidad Nacional de Colombia Female Ph.D. Akinbo Olalekan Univ of Orange Free State – S. Africa Male Ph.D. Ana Cruz Morillo Universidad Nacional de Colombia Female Ph.D. Henry Ojulong Univ of Orange Free State – S. Africa Male Ph.D. Yacenia Morillo Universidad Nacional de Colombia Female Ph.D. Activity 8.2 Development of collaborative projects with partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. Rationale: There is a clear trend in the last few years for a reduction of core contributions to CIAT and a simultaneous increase of special projects. Also the trend involves a stronger participation of NARs as key partners in the execution of different projects. Several proposals have been developed and submitted during the course of the year and few of them have already been approved. Below is a brief description of each of these successful research proposals. Output 8-3 2004 Annual Report High carotene cassava roots. This is the cassava component of the Biofortification Initiative (now Harvest Plus). After more than ten years developing the basic data that allowed the initiative to move forward, full activities begun in 2004. In Africa the activities will be coordinated by IITA and several countries will eventually join the field activities for the development, multiplication, and promotion of elite germplasm with yellow, high-carotene roots. EMBRAPA-CNPMF (Brazil) and CIAT will produce vitroplants of elite clones with high carotene, drought resistance and other desirable characteristics and then ship them to IITA for their introduction and incorporation in the breeding programs in Africa. Eventually some clones could be released if they prove to have outstanding performance. EMBRAPA-CNPMF will also produce sexual seed and share it with other collaborators. EMBRAPA has been a very important and traditional partner for CIAT in the area of cassava research. This project will benefit and continue with this history of collaboration between the two institutions. In Latin America and the Caribbean two key countries will participate in the initiative: Brazil and Haiti. The target region in Brazil is the North East region where cassava is important and poverty and vitamin A deficiency are common. EMBRAPA – CNPMF as well as other EMBRAPA institutes such as CENARGEN in Brazilia and CTAA in Rio de Janeiro. Haiti is the second target country for the deployment of cassava clones with yellow roots. In that case CIAT will work together with World Vision in the Central Plateau. A variety (Yema de Huevo) has already been identified and the initial reaction has been very positive because of its excellent cooking quality. As part of the collaborative activities in this areas visits to Haiti and Brazil took place during the year (Table 8.1) In Asia, also two countries have been targeted based on the prevalence of human consumption of cassava and vitamin A deficiency on one hand and an assessment of the possibilities of attaining success. The countries are India and Vietnam. India has an excellent root and tuber program lead by the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) in Kerala State, Southern India. CTCRI will participate within Harvest Plus not only in the area of cassava research but also on sweet potato. In Vietnam the higher human consumption of cassava takes place in the central region (for example Hue Province). CIAT will introduce cassava germplasm with yellow roots into Vietnam since not much such germplasm exists currently. The main collaborator in Vietnam for this particular initiative is Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry. As part of the collaborative activities a visit to Vietnam took place during the year as well as a prospective trip to Laos (Table 8.1). Doubled-Haploids for cassava genetic improvement. The introduction of inbreeding in cassava has been an evolving idea for a few years now. The year 2004 the project for the introduction of inbreeding in cassava started with the support of Rockefeller Foundation. A technical description of the project was provided in Output 2 (Activity 2.1). There will be several countries participating in the project mainly in the process of producing segregating populations with varying levels of inbreeding. The main objective is to improve tolerance to inbreeding in elite cassava germplasm and to eventually identify useful recessive Project IP3: improving cassava for the developing world Output 8-4 traits that could offer commercial advantages. For the implementation of this project visits to Cuba, Thailand, Vietnam and Brazil took place during the year (Table 8.1). In addition CIAT has initiated contacts with Uganda (National Agricultural and Animal Research Institute) in Eastern Africa and Ghana (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Crops Research Institute) in Western Africa. CLAYUCA As stated in the Annual Reports from previous years the creation of CLAYUCA has been a very positive development of the cassava project at CIAT. CLAYUCA is effectively helping in the technology transfer and in south-to-south collaboration among the participating countries. Through CLAYUCA, CIAT maintains a close association with many countries in the Region. During the workshop on modern technologies for the artificial drying of cassava roots, CIAT participated actively. Mutagenesis project with IAEA As mentioned in Output 2 (Activity 2.2) CIAT and the National University of Colombia started a collaborative project on mutagenesis in cassava. The project is financed by the International Atomic Energy Agency and will last for five years. The resources of this project are mostly invested in training students from that University. Development of research proposal within Challenge Programs. Two new global challenge programs have been approved within the CG system one is the Water Challenge Program and the second is the Genetic Resources Global Challenge Program (GRGCP). Because of their very nature these research proposals involve close collaboration with different NARs and NGOs. In the GRGCP, however, two pre-proposals have been successfully submitted. Many of them involve join activities with EMBRAPA and CORPOICA, representing respectively Brazil and Colombia, two key countries from the cassava genetic biodiversity point of view. Activity 8.3. The collaboration with Colombia. Project IP3 has a special relationship with Colombia. As host country for CIAT it is in Colombia where a large proportion of the research on cassava is conducted. But the relationship with Colombia goes well beyond this point. Colombia has been a key financial supporter of the projects turning around industrial uses of cassava both from the Government (Ministry of Agriculture) and the private sector (Poultry Growers Association). There are too many events developed in Colombia to be listed. Instead, what is happening with the idea of Trapiches Yuqueros will be used as an illustration of the intensity and success of the activities developed in the country. A Trapiche Yuquero is basically a centralized facility for artificial (or mixed) drying of cassava roots and foliage, surrounded by 300-1000 hectares of cassava grown by many farmers. Frequently the farmers growing the cassava are also part owners of the drying facility. Output 8-5 2004 Annual Report Table 8.4 Different activities that took place during the January-October 2004 period promoting cassava in Colombia. Type of event Location # Objective people January Meeting CIAT-CLAYUCA 4 Define cooperation between Secretaría de Agricultura del Valle and CIAT. Meeting CIAT 3 Define cooperation between La Fundación para el Desarrollo Rural Comunitario and CIAT Visit Atlántico 3 Evaluation of planting area for 140 ha in collaboration Department with INYUCAL Field trip Eje Pereira- 3 Field trip to the coffee growing area to strengthen Manizales collaboration with Mr. José Isaac Hernandez February Meeting Malambo 3 Define cooperation between INYUCAL and CIAT. (Atlántico) Meeting CIAT 3 Define cooperation between de Incubadora Santander S.A. and CIAT Meeting Cali – FENALCO 30 Meeting for the presentation of proposals for ALIANZAS DE PAZ Training Jamundí-Agrícola 2 Desarrollo de un proyecto comercial de yuca LTDA industrial. Training of two Cuban visitors. Training Polonuevo 15 Presentations of cassava genetic improvements, (Atlántico) varieties and cultural management. Field trip Valle del Cauca 10 Define cooperation between Secretaría de Agricultura Department del Valle del Cauca and CIAT Field day Vereda Rejoya 10 Field day with UMATA, Secretaría de Agricultura del Popayán Cauca and Corfocial Field trip Sucre y Córdoba 5 Training of FUPAD personnel on handling of stakes and planting techniques Visit Chimichagua 3 Prospective visit to evaluate feasibility of a Trapiche (Cesar) Yuquero in the region. Meeting Cali 20 Participation in the Poultry Growers Association production chain and SAG. Meeting Sincelejo 10 Diffusion of information to farmers on the growing of industrial cassava varieties. Field day Jamundí and 1 Prospective evaluation of a project on biodegradable Quilichao plastics with Dr. S. Villada Universidad del Valle. Meeting CORPICA-Cereté 30 Planning of planting in the region and definition of production costs for 2004. Workshop Pereira 19 Training en cassava management on hillsides, IPM, diseases and cassava germplasm. March Meeting Sincere 8 Planning meeting to define strategies for the control of frog skin disease. Meeting Polonuevo 40 Promote the planting of industrial cassava, and the (Atlántico) signing of forward contracts. Workshop Sincelejo 8 Training on cultural practices for industrial cassava in the region. Field day Santander de 6 Techniques for the determination of dry matter Quilichao content and cyanogenic potential. Table 8.2 cont. Project IP3: improving cassava for the developing world Output 8-6 Type of event Location # Objective people Meeting Baranoa 30 Meeting with farmers of the Baranoa region (Atlántico) (Atlántico) on the topic of industrial cassava. Training La Libertad 2 Training on planting of cassava and cultural practices. Meeting CORPOICA 12 Planning of planting in the region and definition of production costs for 2004. Meeting CIAT 1 Collaboration with the starch company RAISO for implementing industrial plantings of cassava April Training La Libertad 2 Training on planting of cassava and cultural practices. Training La libertad 5 Training on planting of cassava and cultural practices. Meeting Barranquilla 30 Prospective meeting on agriculture and fisheries in the (Atlántico) Atlántico Department for year 2003. Training La Libertad 5 Training on planting of cassava and cultural practices. Training La libertad 10 Training on planting of cassava and cultural practices. Training La Libertad 6 Training on planting of cassava and cultural practices. Meeting CORPOICA 40 Information about Law N° 84. Presentation of a project on artificial drying of maize. Workshop CORPOICA 42 Technical support for the official release of five new varieties. Field day La Libertad 30 Selection of healthy planting material and good root aspect. May Field day Turipaná 400 Field day for the official release of five new varieties. (Córdoba) Field day CIAT 23 Techniques for the determination of dry matter content and cyanogenic potential. Meeting Puerto López 20 Potential of industrial cassava for the Altillanura region in the Eastern Savannas. Workshop Quilichao- 16 Obtention of dextrines from root flour of cassava Univ. Del Cauca obtained through artificial drying. Visit Aguazul y 6 Feedback on the evolution of several agro-industrial Tauramena projects involving cassava. Conference La Robleda- 30 Potential of cassava as source of energy in poultry Cauca feed. Meeting. Barranquilla 10 Prospective meeting on the potential of cassava for the (Atlántico) production of carburant alcohol. June Exposition in Cali – Ind. Licores 50 Diffusion of the project of industrial cassava and Fair del Valle technologies available from CIAT and CLAYUCA. Training Jamundí - Valle 34 International Training Course on modern cassava Course Pescador - Cauca growing and processing technologies. Meeting Puerto Gaitán 11 Potential of industrial cassava for the Altillanura region in the Eastern Savannas. Output 8-7 2004 Annual Report Table 8.2 cont. Type of event Location # Objective people Visit Pto López-Pto G. 3 Evaluation of fields for planting of industrial cassava Hda La Fazenda Meeting La libertad 9 Evaluation of cassava field as source of planting materials for the Eastern Savannas. July Workshop Cimitarra 18 Cultural practices, artificial drying alternatives and options to reduce production costs. Meeting Alcaldía 4 Definition of planting schedule, and technical Tauramena assistance to the Municipio Meeting Barrancabermeja 4 Meeting to propose FUNDAESMAG as operator for credit of small cassava production. Meeting San Vicente 10 Planning of planting cassava and technical support to the Trapiche Yuquero. Meeting Aguazul 3 Definition of planting schedule, sources of healthy planting materials and technical assistance. Meeting Cúcuta 4 Support for the proposal of a planting of 200 ha of cassava to FINAGRO. Meeting Cimitarra 4 Prospective trip to learn about the different cassava growing projects in the region. Meeting Bucaramanga 14 Presentation of results from the project with Ministry of Agriculture of Colombia Meeting Vivero Agua de 4 Delivery of planting material and training of ways for Dios- Cundinam. their proper handling. Meeting CIAT 1 Planning meeting to evaluate collaborative projects with SENA regional Meeting Santander de 3 Collaboration with Asociación Municipal de Usuarios Quilichao Campesinos -CIAT Meeting Finca Las 3 Planning meeting for the establishment of project for Palomas-Yopal the production of healthy cassava planting material. Meeting Cúcuta 6 Support for the proposal of a planting of 200 ha of cassava to FINAGRO and Banco Agrario. Meeting UMATA de 5 Planning meeting for the establishment of project for Villanueva the production of healthy cassava planting material August Meeting Bucaramanga 5 Review of projects approved by FOMIPIME for marketing cassava. Meeting CIAT 1 Characterization of cassava cultivars from indigenous communities in Ecuador. Meeting Edificio Acuario – 3 Validation and modification of an industrial cassava Yopal project. Training Girardot 25 Training of personnel from UAMATAS on cassava cultural practices. Meeting Carmen de 3 Planning of experiment for the feeding of fish with Apicalá cassava flour. Meeting Oficina – Yopal 4 Evaluation of impact from activities in 2003 and follow up on activities during 2004. Project IP3: improving cassava for the developing world Output 8-8 Table 8.2 cont. Type of event Location # Objective people Meeting Popayán – Cauca 70 3d working meeting between the Department Government and Indigenous communities. Meeting Barrancabermeja 18 Presentation of FUNDESMAG as credit operator for FINAGRO. Workshop Santander de 60 Training on the production of clean planting material Quilichao - for cassava Field day Finca Palomas 8 Technical support for planting three new cassava varieties. Meeting Barrancabermeja 5 Review of project draft for industrial cassava planting in the region. Field day Finca El Paradero 7 Technical support for planting three new cassava varieties. September Meeting Santander de 7 Planning meeting for joint collaborative projects for Quilichao IICCA/MADR call for proposals. Field day Finca El Mangal 5 Technical support for planting cassava varieties developed by CIAT. Meeting CIAT 5 Further planning meeting for joint collaborative projects for IICCA/MADR call for proposals. Meeting Espinal 4 Collaborative project with CORPOICA for planting multiplication nursery and trials. Meeting Agua de Dios- 6 Evaluation of cassava processing facilities (mainly Cundinamarca drying) in the region. Meeting San Luís (Tolima) 7 Delivery of clean planting material and training on its handling Field day Finca El Paradero 3 Planting of a multiplication nursery of clone CM 523-7 provided by Unitropico. Field day Potrerillo 5 Selection of samples for the production of CEUNP biodegradable plastics. Meeting Alcaldía de 4 Multiplication nursery for the production of clean Tauramena planting material of new varieties Training CEUNP – 1 Evaluation of projects for industrial cassava with Dr. Potrerillo M. Valdivi Instituto de Ciencia Animal (Cuba). Meeting Espinal 4 Launching of collaborative project with CORPOICA for planting multiplication nursery and trials. Field day Alcaldía de 5 Technical support for planting cassava varieties Tauramena developed by CIAT in a multiplication nursery. October Field day Potrerillo 5 Further selection of samples for the production of CEUNP biodegradable plastics. Meeting Tamalameque 20 Technical assistance to the Trapiche Yuquero de Tamalameque. Meeting SAG –Cali 20 Participation in the Poultry Growers Association production chain and SAG. Training CIAT 25 Development and evaluation of experimental clones in a cassava genetic improvement project. Output 8-9 2004 Annual Report CIAT and CLAYUCA have been promoting the creation of Trapiches Yuqueros for three years now. To materialize the idea two main issues had to be dealt with. The year 2003 was a turning point for cassava in Colombia because not only the first Trapiche Yuquero was created that year, but also because ten additional Trapiches followed. This idea has been adopted by many different communities, which further developed or modified the original idea to adapt it to local conditions. CLAYUCA and CIAT are very proud of these developments. Although this is taking place only in Colombia at this point, the idea has generated enough interest in other countries in the Region (Nicaragua, Venezuela, Ecuador) as well as outside the Region (Nigeria). During the year 2004 the fieldwork begun in many of these Trapiches Yuqueros and both CLAYUCA and CIAT are contributing to their activities, providing planting material and technical supervision on their operations. In addition to the specific involvement with the operations of Trapiches Yuqueros IP3 project successfully presented a proposal to COLCIENCIAS for a collaborative project (private sector, National University of Colombia, CENICAFE, CIAT and CLAYUCA) for the creation of a high- capacity starch quality laboratory, which was described in Output 2 (Activity 2.4). A major factor contributing to the success in the area of collaboration with NARs from Latin American Countries has been the complementation and collaboration between CIAT and CLAYUCA, which is dully acknowledged here. Table 8.4 lists the most important activities conducted in Colombia for the promotion and/or technical development of cassava in which personnel from IP3 actively participated. Activity 8.4. Scientific meetings and publications. Scientific publications: 1. Reddy, BVS, AF Rangel, B. Ramaiah and R. Ortiz. A research amd network strategy for sustainable sorghum production systems for Latin America. 2004. In MCS Bantilan, UK Deb, CLL Gowda, BVS Reddy, AB Obilana and RE Evenson (Eds.) Sorghum Genetic Enhancement: research process, dissemination and impacts. ICRISAT, Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India pp. 139-148. 2. Ceballos, H., C.A. Iglesias, J. C. Pérez, & A.G.O. Dixon, 2004. Cassava breeding: opportunities and challenges. Plant Molecular Biology (in press). 3. Jaramillo, G., N. Morante, J.C. Perez, F. Calle, H. Ceballos*, B. Arias and A.C. Bellotti. 2004. Diallel analysis in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) adapted to the mid-altitude valleys environment. Crop Science (in press) 4. Lenis, J.I., F. Calle, G. Jaramillo, J.C. Perez, H.Ceballos, and J.H. Cock. 2004. The effect of leaf retention in cassava productivity. (Submitted to Field Crops Research and accepted for publication after minor changes). 5. Chávez, A.L., T. Sánchez, G. Jaramillo, J. M.l Bedoya, J. Echeverry, E. A. Bolaños , H. Ceballos, & C.A. Iglesias. 2004. Variation of quality traits in cassava roots evaluated in Project IP3: improving cassava for the developing world Output 8-10 landraces and improved clones. (Submitted to Euphytica and accepted for publication after minor changes). 6. Ceballos, H, T. Sánchez, A.L. Chávez, C. Iglesias, D.Debouck, G. Mafla, and J. Tohme. 2004. Variation in crude protein content in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots. (Submitted to Journal of Food Composition and Analysis). 7. Sánchez, T., A.L. Chávez, H. Ceballos, D.B. Rodriguez-Amaya, P. Nestel and M. Ishitami. 2004. Reduction or delay of post-harvest physiological deterioration in high-carotene cassava roots. (Submitted to Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture). 8. Morante, N., X. Moreno, J.C. Perez, F. Calle, J.I. Lenis, E. Ortega, G.Jaramillo and H. Ceballos. 2004. Precision of selection in early stages of cassava genetic improvement. (Submitted to Crop Science). 9. Cach, N.T., J.I. Lenis, J.C. Perez, N. Morante, F. Calle and H. Ceballos. 2004. Inheritance of relevant traits in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) for sub-humid conditions. (Submitted to Plant Breeding). 10. Calle, F., J.C. Perez, W. Gaitán, N. Morante, H. Ceballos, G.Llano & E.Alvarez. Genetics of relevant traits in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) adapted to acid-soil savannas. (Submitted to Euphytica). 11. Nguyen Thi Cach, JC Perez, JI Lenis, F Calle, N Morante and H. Ceballos. 2004. Epistasis in the expression of relevant traits in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) for sub-humid conditions (Submitted to Journal of Heredity). 12. Perez, J.C., H. Ceballos, F.Calle, W. Gaitán, N. Morante, G.Llano & E.Alvarez. Additive, dominance and epistatic effects of relevant traits in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) adapted to acid-soil savannas. (Submitted to Theoretical and Applied Genetics). 13. Perez, J.C., H. Ceballos, Jaramillo, G., N. Morante, F. Calle, B. Arias and A.C. Bellotti. 2004. Analysis of the relative importance of epistasis in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) adapted to the mid-altitude valleys environment. (Submitted to Crop Science). 14. Perez Velázquez, J.C. C.L. Souza Jr. L.A. Narro, S. Pandey, and C. De León. Genetic effects for maize traits under acid and non-acid soils. (Submitted to Euphytica) Scientific Presentations: 1. Rao, I., Ayarza, M., Trouche, G., Ceballos, H., Alves, A., Miles, J., Argel, P., Schmidt, A., Peters, M., Holman, F., Lundy, M., Quirós, C., Rondon, M., Monneveux, P., and Córdoba, H. Improving crop and forage adaptation to dry conditions of Central America. Climate Change Workshop. Catie, Costa Rica. March 16-18, 2004. 2. Perez J.C.; Ceballos H; Lenis J.I.; Ortega E.; Calle F. and Morante N. Stability and genotype by environment analysis in cassava. Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Cali, Colombia March 8-14, 2004. 3. Perez J.C.; Ceballos H; Lenis J.I.; Ortega E.; and Morante N. Heritability of agronomically relevant traits in cassava. Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Cali, Colombia March 8-14, 2004. Output 8-11 2004 Annual Report 4. Ceballos H; Perez J.C.; Calle F.; Morante N.; Lenis J.I. and Jaramillo G. Alternative for estimating general combining ability in cassava beeding. Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Cali, Colombia March 8-14, 2004. 5. Ceballos H.; Lentini Z.; Perez J.C. and Fregene M. Introduction of inbreeding in cassava through the production of doubled haploids. Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Cali, Colombia March 8-14, 2004. 6. Ceballos H; Perez J.C.; Jaramillo G.; Morante N.; Calle F. and Lenis J.I. Inheritance of agronomically relevant traits in cassava. Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Cali, Colombia March 8-14, 2004. 7. Perez J.C.; Ceballos H; Ortega E.; Lenis J.I.; Calle F. and Morante N. Phenotypic and genetic correlations among agronomically relevant traits in cassava. Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Cali, Colombia March 8-14, 2004. 8. Perez J.C.; Ceballos H; Ortega E. and Lenis J.I. Analysis of genotype by environment interactions in cassava using the AMMI model. Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Cali, Colombia March 8-14, 2004. 9. Egesi C.; Castelblanco, W.; Morante N.; Mba C.; Ceballos H. and Fregene M. Identification of naturally occurring and irradiation-induced mutant GBSSI alleles of cassava in a heterozygous genetic background. Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Cali, Colombia March 8-14, 2004. 10. Morante N.; Sánchez T.; Marin J.; Ospina C.; Gutiérrez J.; Barrera E.; Ceballos H.; Alzate A.; Moreno S. and Fregene M. Mining the primary gene pool of cassava: introgression of resistance to the cassava green mite andhigh root protein from accessions of Manihot esculenta sub spp flabellifolia and Manihot tristis into cassava. Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Cali, Colombia March 8-14, 2004. 11. Loke J.B.; Alvarez E.; Corredor J. A.; Folgueras M.; Jaramillo G. and Ceballos H. Preliminary evidence of correlation between foliar and root resistance to root rot caused by Phytophtthora tropicalis in cassava. Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Cali, Colombia March 8-14, 2004. 12. Kullaya A.; Mtunda K.; Kulembeka H.; Ferguson M.; Marin J.; Ospina C.; Barrera E.; Jarvis A.; Morante M.; Ceballos H.; Tohme J. and Fregene M. Molecular marker-assisted and farmer participatory improvement of cassava germplasm for farmer/market preferred traits in Tanzania. Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Cali, Colombia March 8-14, 2004. 13. Chavez A. L.; Sánchez T.; Tohme J.; Ishitani M. and Ceballos H. Sampling variability in cassava roots for total carotene content. Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Cali, Colombia March 8-14, 2004. 14. Chavez A. L.; Sánchez T.; Tohme J.; Ishitani M. and Ceballos H. Effect of processing on B- carotene content of cassava roots. Sixth International Scientific Meeting of the Cassava Biotechnology Network. Cali, Colombia March 8-14, 2004. Project IP3: improving cassava for the developing world Output 8-12 15. Ceballos H.; Fregene M.; Mejía S.; Castelblanco W.; and Morante N. Mutagenesis of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) for the generation, identification and molecular analysis of novel traits. First FAO/IAEA Research Coordination Meeting on “Effects of mutagenic agents on the DNA sequence in plants” Vienna, Austria, 1-5 March 2004. 16. Ceballos, H.; Fregene, M.;Sánchez, T.; Pérez J.C.; and Lentini, Z. Approaches for modifications of starch quality traits in cassava through conventional breeding. Workshop on starch biosynthesis and cassava biotechnology. Chulalongkorn University. Bangkok, Thailand. May 10-12, 2004. 17. Maziya-Dixon, B., A. G. O. Dixon, R. Asiedu, R. Kapinga, M. Andrade, M. Bonierbale, and H. Ceballos. 2004. Biofortification of Root and Tuber Crops: A Novel Approach. ISTRC- African Branch. Nairobi, Kenya. November 1-5, 2004. 18. Jaramillo, G., J.I. Lenis, F.Calle, N. Morante, E. Ortega, J.C. Perez and H. Ceballos. 2004. Relationship between traits measured at different stages of the selection process in cassava. ISTRC-African Branch. ISTRC-African Branch. Nairobi, Kenya. November 1-5, 2004. 19. Morante, N., T. Sanchez, J. Marin, C. Ospina, J. Gutierrez, E. Barrera, H. Ceballos, A. Alzate, S. Moreno, M. Fregene. 2004. High Root Protein Content in Accessions of Wild Manihot species and Manihot esculenta land races from Guatemala. ISTRC-African Branch. ISTRC-African Branch. Nairobi, Kenya. November 1-5, 2004. 20. Ceballos, H., J.C. Perez, A.L. Chávez, T. Sánchez, F. Calle, N. Morante, G. Jaramillo. 2004. Cassava research and nutrition value. ECHO Agricultural Missions Conference. Fort Myers, Florida, USA. November 8-10, 2004 21. Ceballos, H., A.L. Chávez, and T. Sánchez. 2004. Improving cassava nutritional value through the Harvest Plus Challenge Program. IVACG Meeting. Lima, Peru. November 15- 17, 2004. Prepared Manuscripts not yet submitted: 1. Perez, J.C., M. Espitia, H. Ceballos,.J.I. Lenis, and E. Ortega.. Genetic, phenotypic and environmental relationships between different traits in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). (to be submitted to Crop Science). 2. Chávez, A.L., T. Sánchez, A.L., H. Ceballos, P. Nestel, D.B. Rodriguez-Amaya, and M. Ishitami. Effect of processing on carotenes present in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots (to be submitted to Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture). 3. Sánchez, T., A.L. Chávez,, H. Ceballos, P. Nestel, D.B. Rodriguez-Amaya, and M. Ishitami. Effect of different storage conditions on carotenes present in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots (to be submitted to Euphytica). Output 8-13 2004 Annual Report