The Cassava Plant

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2.0 THE CASSAVA PLANT Cassava, Manihot esculenta, grown basically for its storage roots is a perennial shrub in the family Euphorbiaceae. The cassava plant is a woody plant that may have been first cultivated in brazil is the third largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics and a major staple food in the developing world (Adekunle, Osazuwa, & Raghavan, 2016). Different varieties of cassava possess distinctive characteristics and qualities that enable the various varieties adapt to its environment. The cassava plant as compared to other plants can flourish in drought season and poor soils. It forms a symbiotic association with soil fungi, which makes the cassava plant grow in acidic soils (Adekunle et al., 2016) Growth of the cassava …show more content…

Surface modified cassava starch can be used to make partially degradable films. These films contain 40% cassava starch and 60% low-density polyethylene polymer (Larotonda et al, 2004). 2.1.4 CHEMICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY Cassava plays an important role in the production of drugs. Cassava starch serves as filler and binding agent in pharmaceutical industries to produce tablets in powder formulations (Singh & Nath, 2012). Cassava starch is required in the manufacture of sugar syrups using crystalline and liquid glucose. It is also used in the manufacturing of capsules and powder formulations. Cassava starch coats and binds the constituents of the drug (tablets) together and aids in the disintegration and dispersal of the active ingredients in the drug when ingested (Bos et al, 1987). 2.1.5 PRODUCTION OF DETERGENTS Detergent industries use cassava starch in the manufacturing of detergents and soaps to get better recovery and increased shelf life. Cassava starch serves as fillers in producing soaps; it is normally mixed with the particles of the soap before milling (Tonukari et al,