Elibariki, GladnessLupembe, M.Hosea, Ken M.Ndunguru, Joseph2016-07-082016-07-082014Elibariki, G., Lupembe, M., Hosea, K. and Ndunguru, J., 2014. Evaluation of regeneration potentials of farmer-preferred cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) landraces to unlock cassava transformation barriers. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences, 7(9), p.560.2227-670Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/2847Evaluation of cassava germplasms for in vitro regeneration ability is crucial for stable genetic improvement of this crop via genetic transformation systems. Methods for reliable and efficient transformation including somatic embryo regeneration and recovery of transgenic plants still need to be developed and customized for each cassava genotype. Twenty one Tanzanian farmer- preferred cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) landraces widely grown in major cassava growing zones were evaluated for somatic embryo induction, recovery, sustainability and plantlets regeneration to whole plants. Somatic embryogenesis was induced from cassava leaf lobes on Murashige and Skoog media supplemented with different concentrations of sucrose, Copper sulphate and 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and further developed to plantlets. Frequency of somatic embryo production and subsequently regeneration stages were evaluated starting from 28 days post-inoculation. All cassava genotypes tested in this study were able to induce callus where by 62 % were able to induce somatic embryo cotyledons. Cassava landraces: Sagalato, Rangimbili, Mnazi and Kibandameno were highly responsive to somatic embryo production. The conversion rate of embryos into plantlets was variable depending on the cassava landrace, Sagalato being the most responsive and Kiroba the least. Somatic embryos from 8 cassava landraces reached plantlet stage, 5 of them being acclimatized and successfully developed to plants with normal phenotype and they rooted on soil. The regeneration potentials of farmer-preferred cassava landraces observed in this study is hoped to pave a way towards genetic improvement for both biotic and abiotic stresses via genetic engineering approaches.enFriable calli2,4-DMARISomatic embryoTanzaniaJournal Article, Peer Reviewed