Climate change and its effects on cassava crop

The objective of this review is to ensemble information from the literature on the response of cassava to climate change. The growth rate of the most plants increases at elevated CO2 because it is the substrate for photosynthesis, however, the increase in temperature may offset the benefits of CO2 on crop productivity due to a shortening of the cycle and increase in respiration of maintenance. Results from greenhouse, field and numerical experiments indicate that the response of cassava crop to elevated CO2 is positive, i.e. the increase in atmospheric CO2 results in increase of storage root yield of cassava. The increase in temperature projected in future climate scenarios in general should not decrease storage root yield of cassava, mainly in Africa, where this crop has an important role on food security. Further studies should be made using the current knowledge in order to confirm previous studies on the response of cassava to elevated CO2 and temperature in regions where few studies have been conducted, like in Brazil.