Genetic architecture and gene mapping of cyanide in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.)

Cassava is a root crop originating from South America and a major staple crop in the Tropics, including marginal environments. In this study, we focused on South American and African cassava germplasm and investigated the genetic architecture of Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN), a major component of tuber quality. HCN is a plant defense component against herbivory but also toxic for human consumption. We genotyped 3,354 landraces and modern breeding lines originating from 26 Brazilian states and 1,389 individuals were phenotypically characterized across multi-year trials for HCN. All plant material was subjected to high density genotyping using Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). We performed genome wide association mapping (GWAS) to characterize the genetic architecture and gene mapping of HCN. Field experiment revealed strong broad and narrow-sense trait heritability (0.82 and 0.41 respectively). Two major loci were identified, encoding for an ATPase and a MATE protein and contributing up to 7% and 30% of the cyanide concentration in roots, respectively. We developed diagnostic markers for breeding applications, validated trait architecture consistency in African germplasm and investigated further evidence for domestication of sweet and bitter cassava. Fine genomic loci characterization indicate; (i) a major role played by vacuolar transporter in regulating HCN content, (ii) co-domestication of sweet and bitter cassava major alleles to be geographical zone dependant, and (ii) major loci allele for high cyanide cassava in Manihot esculenta Crantz seems to originate from its ancestor, M. esculenta ssp. flabellifolia. Taken together these findings expand insights on cyanide in cassava and its glycosylated derivatives in plants. One-sentence summaryIdentification of an intracellular transporter gene and its allelic variation allow to point out cultivars with up to 30 percent decrease in cassava root cyanide content, toxic for human consumption.