Abstract
The pre-requisite for any cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) transformation program that proposes to develop improved plants is the availability of a reliable regeneration system. Presently many laboratories that prioritize cassava research are able to reliably regenerate plants from a range of cultivars. Unfortunately, some cultivars are still either recalcitrant or resisting attempts to induce useful levels of embryogenesis from their tissues.The review gives a brief account on the different uses of cassava, its introduction into southern Africa and the region's current cassava disease complex with a particular focus in South Africa. Different cassava regeneration and gene transfer systems are also discussed.We conclude by presenting future prospects in southern African cassava biotechnology.
Key words: Cassava, CMD, Cassava biotechnology.
