Field Crop 2024, Vol.7, No.1, 27-36 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 34 change, and depending on future climate projects, the optimal suitability area will decrease (Chemura et al., 2020). However, cassava has shown that future CO2 levels stimulate yields more than expected, which may offset some of the negative effects (Rosenthal et al., 2012). Farmers have been adapting to these changes through various practices, such as planting improved cassava varieties, diversifying livelihoods, and adjusting harvest times (Osuji et al., 2023). Genetic adaptation and breeding strategies have great potential and prospects in cassava cultivation. Through the use of modern biotechnology, cassava varieties can be bred that are more resilient to climate change, with higher yields and better quality. In response to climate change, improved cassava varieties are recommended to be bred that can tolerate extreme fluctuations in rainfall, high temperatures and floods (Enete et al., 2013). The importance of breeding for pest and disease resistance or tolerance is emphasized, as these biological stresses may change in distribution due to climate change (Chapman et al., 2012). Cassava has been identified as a crop that is highly resilient to future climate change, and it is essential to nurture abiotic traits such as drought and cold tolerance (Jarvis et al., 2012). Gender-specific trait preferences, such as drought tolerance and early swelling, have been identified among farmers, which should inform breeding programs to enhance resilience and social inclusion (Olaosebikan et al., 2023). Future research should focus on the chemical properties of the new adaptation practices observed in cassava processing and the genetic signatures and phenotypes of complex adaptive traits under climate change conditions (Chapman et al., 2012). Studying the potential incidence and intensity of biostresses and opportunities for breeding solutions is critical to prioritizing investment. In addition, strengthening the adaptation options available to farmers, including improving cassava production, processing, marketing, and value chain infrastructure, is essential for sustainable adaptation (Mbwambo and Liwenga, 2020). The social dimensions of climate change, such as the differential impacts on men and women, and how breeding programs can be more socially inclusive and anticipatory of future challenges should also be considered (Olaosebikan et al., 2023). Acknowledgments We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Fang X.J, the director of the Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, for reading the initial draft of this paper and providing valuable feedback. We also thank the two anonymous peer reviewers for their critical assessment and constructive suggestions on our manuscript. Funding This project was funded by the Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources under the research contract for the project "Screening and Breeding of Cassava Resources" (Project Number H20230201). Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References BAparecido L., Moraes J., Meneses K., Lorençone P., Lorençone J., Souza G., and Torsoni G., 2020, Agricultural zoning as tool for expansion of cassava in climate change scenarios, Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 142: 1085-1095. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-020-03367-1 Atlin G., Cairns J., and Das B., 2017, Rapid breeding and varietal replacement are critical to adaptation of cropping systems in the developing world to climate change, Global Food Security, 12: 31-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2017.01.008 Brown A., Carpentier S.C., and Swennen R., 2020, Breeding Climate-Resilient Bananas. In: Kole, C. (eds) Genomic Designing of Climate-Smart Fruit Crops. Springer, Cham, Swiss Confederation, Switzerland, pp.91-115. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97946-5_4 Chapman S., Chakraborty S., Dreccer M., Dreccer M., and Howden M., 2012, Plant adaptation to climate change—opportunities and priorities in breeding, Crop and Pasture Science, 63: 251-268. https://doi.org/10.1071/CP11303
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