Modern breeding of root, tuber, and bulb crops to enhance food and nutritional security
- 1Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
- 2Independent Researcher, Hyderabad, 500016 Telangana India
- 3Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1575 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706 USA
Abstract
Key message: Unlocking the molecular mechanisms and pathways of underground storage organ development and nutrient and non-nutrient traits may provide more avenues to tailor elite germplasm enriched with these characteristics in root, tuber, and bulb crops. Biofortified cassava, potato, and sweet potato provide food and nutritional security to millions of people in Africa, Asia, and Latin American regions.
Abstract: Root and tuber crops provide food and nutritional security to millions of people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, while garlic and onions, in addition to strong therapeutic potential, are widely used in food preparation to add flavour and taste. Root, tuber, and bulb (RTB) crops are a good source of carbohydrates, minerals, and bioactive compounds. However, these crops also possess a variety of allergens and toxic compounds, limiting their consumption. Here, we synthesized i) the contribution of RTB crops on food and nutrition security in the Global South, ii) the various types of allergens and toxic compounds detected in these crops, iii) catalogue germplasm resources across national and international genebanks, iv) document the range of genetic variation in edible organs morphology, nutrient and non-nutrient traits, v) discuss advances in high-throughput phenomics to monitor variability, vi) assess population structure and diversity in germplasm pool, vii) list genomic regions (QTL) and genes (both functionally characterized and candidate genes and QTL) associated with storage organs (roots or tubers) morphology, nutrient and non-nutrient traits, viii) uptake, transport, and storage of minerals in edible vegetable organs and their effects on consumers, and ix) advances in genetic improvement of nutritionally enhanced (nutrient and non-nutrient traits) and productive germplasm through crossbreeding and biotechnological interventions. Assessing and exploiting functional diversity, combined with the use of functionally characterized genes and associated markers for storage root growth/thickening, and nutrient and non-nutrient traits, can be deployed in breeding programs to improve these characteristics in RTB crops. Numerous candidate genes and genomic regions (or quantitative trait loci) reported herein must be functionally validated before being deployed in crop breeding programs. A greater emphasis should be placed on genetically and phenotypically characterizing RTB germplasm, and on combining empirical breeding with molecular tools to enhance precision, efficiency, and rapid genetic gain. Millions of rural households in parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America are currently benefiting from the commercialization of provitamin A-enriched cassava, potato, and sweet potato. The development of orange-fleshed sweet potato cultivars with higher levels of provitamin A was awarded the ‘‘World Food Prize’’ in 2016. There are more opportunities to enhance nutrition status and food security through improvement of root, tuber, and bulb crops.
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BibTeX
@article{ortiz2026modern,
title = {{Modern breeding of root, tuber, and bulb crops to enhance food and nutritional security}},
author = {Rodomiro Ortiz and Sangam L. Dwivedi and Audrey Pelikan and Irwin L. Goldman},
journal = {TAG. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. Theoretische Und Angewandte Genetik},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1007/s00122-026-05426-z},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-026-05426-z},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Modern breeding of root, tuber, and bulb crops to enhance food and nutritional security
AU - Rodomiro Ortiz
AU - Sangam L. Dwivedi
AU - Audrey Pelikan
AU - Irwin L. Goldman
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - TAG. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. Theoretische Und Angewandte Genetik
DO - 10.1007/s00122-026-05426-z
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-026-05426-z
AB - Key message: Unlocking the molecular mechanisms and pathways of underground storage organ development and nutrient and non-nutrient traits may provide more avenues to tailor elite germplasm enriched with these characteristics in root, tuber, and bulb crops. Biofortified cassava, potato, and sweet potato provide food and nutritional security to millions of people in Africa, Asia, and Latin American regions. Abstract: Root and tuber crops provide food and nutritional security to millions of people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, while garlic and onions, in addition to strong therapeutic potential, are widely used in food preparation to add flavour and taste. Root, tuber, and bulb (RTB) crops are a good source of carbohydrates, minerals, and bioactive compounds. However, these crops also possess a variety of allergens and toxic compounds, limiting their consumption. Here, we synthesized i) the contribution of RTB crops on food and nutrition security in the Global South, ii) the various types of allergens and toxic compounds detected in these crops, iii) catalogue germplasm resources across national and international genebanks, iv) document the range of genetic variation in edible organs morphology, nutrient and non-nutrient traits, v) discuss advances in high-throughput phenomics to monitor variability, vi) assess population structure and diversity in germplasm pool, vii) list genomic regions (QTL) and genes (both functionally characterized and candidate genes and QTL) associated with storage organs (roots or tubers) morphology, nutrient and non-nutrient traits, viii) uptake, transport, and storage of minerals in edible vegetable organs and their effects on consumers, and ix) advances in genetic improvement of nutritionally enhanced (nutrient and non-nutrient traits) and productive germplasm through crossbreeding and biotechnological interventions. Assessing and exploiting functional diversity, combined with the use of functionally characterized genes and associated markers for storage root growth/thickening, and nutrient and non-nutrient traits, can be deployed in breeding programs to improve these characteristics in RTB crops. Numerous candidate genes and genomic regions (or quantitative trait loci) reported herein must be functionally validated before being deployed in crop breeding programs. A greater emphasis should be placed on genetically and phenotypically characterizing RTB germplasm, and on combining empirical breeding with molecular tools to enhance precision, efficiency, and rapid genetic gain. Millions of rural households in parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America are currently benefiting from the commercialization of provitamin A-enriched cassava, potato, and sweet potato. The development of orange-fleshed sweet potato cultivars with higher levels of provitamin A was awarded the ‘‘World Food Prize’’ in 2016. There are more opportunities to enhance nutrition status and food security through improvement of root, tuber, and bulb crops.
SN - 0040-5752
SN - 1432-2242
ER -