The ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) in Thiruvananthapuram has embarked on a ₹4 crore research project for developing tapioca varieties with waxy or high-amylose starches that are useful in industry with the help of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology.
Waxy starch has uses in food products, adhesives, textile and pharmaceuticals, the CTCRI said.
Tapioca (cassava) varieties available in India have limited scope in industry owing to their starch composition, which, on an average, is 20% amylose and 80% amylopectin.