In May 2024, Mr. Ke Yi, a graduate student from the team of Dr. Songbi Chen at the Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), visited our center to conduct collaborative research on screening cassava germplasm for resistance to cassava mosaic disease (CMD) within the National Cassava Germplasm Repository.

Through resistance evaluation and identification of 500 diverse cassava germplasm accessions against African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV), the team has gained preliminary insights into the resistance spectrum of China’s cassava genetic resources. This collaborative effort provides valuable information for the development of CMD-resistant varieties and contributes to enhancing the resilience of China’s cassava industry.