A major problem facing cassava production is availability of virus free stem cuttings, which are used for propagation. Research was conducted with various culture media to achieve rapid propagation of disease-free cassava (cv. Chilena) from shoot tip and nodal cuttings. Shoot tip cuttings produced roots and grew vigorously as single shoots when cultured on half strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.5 $mu$M indole butyric acid (IBA). The medium was designated Australian maintenance medium (AMM). Cultures from shoot tip explants on AMM were maintained for a period of 6 weeks. Half strength MS supplemented with 1.0 $mu$M 6-benzylamino purine (BAP) + 0.25 $mu$M naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) designated Australian proliferation medium (APM) was ideal for nodal cuttings which produced callus, multiple shoots, but no roots. Multiple shoot formation increased with APM double phase medium (liquid medium overlaying a solid portion in a culture vessel (LIMO)). Double phase of AMM and APM medium in reciprocal combinations showed that shoot tip explants formed roots and grew as single shoots when AMM was the solid phase. In contrast, nodal cuttings or shoot tips placed in APM solid phase developed callus with few roots. When explants were cultured for 3 weeks in a double phase medium, with 0.05 $mu$M gibberellic acid (GA$sb3$) in LIMO and AMM solid phase, taller (3 cm), single shoots with $>$3.5 roots per explant were produced, while with APM and GA$sb3$ cultures were shorter, multiple shoots but without roots. Double phase medium of either AMM or APM with GA$sb3$ in the LIMO, induced $>$5 dissectable nodes vs 2 nodes with single phase AMM or APM + GA$sb3$. A shoot tip explant, placed on AMM medium with GA$sb3$ in LIMO, produced 5.5 compared to 3.8 nodes when placed on AMM solid phase with 0.1 $mu$M BAP + 0.25 $mu$M NAA in LIMO. Nodal cuttings cultured in double phase media with GA$sb3$ in LIMO produced more shoots, leaves and dissectable nodes than when BAP + NAA or IBA were in LIMO, and APM as solid phase. This response was enhanced by shaking nodal cuttings in an APM solution for 2 or 6 days prior to culturing.

In this book, the author brings together the latest information on improved strains, modem production systems, better processing methods, innovations in storage and marketing, and the prospects for using cassava to produce fuel alcohol.

Intended as both an instructional and a reference tool, the volume covers the production and postharvest treatment of cassava. The first part describes production constraints including pests , diseases, weeds, soils agronomic factors, and socioeconomic considerations. In part two, plant morphology, plant physiology and plant breeding are related to yields and diseases resistance. Part three covers postharvest treatment and part four describes cassava research. A bibliography of recommended reading is included.