The main mission of the division of Crop Improvement is the development of new varieties of tropical tuber crops which cater to the diverse needs of different clientele groups. A total of 5000 germplasm collected from different parts of India and abroad which represents the rich diversity of all the tropical tuber crops is being maintained both as field gene bank as well as in vitro active gene bank. About 40 varieties of the different tuber crops have been released by this division. These new varieties have some important attributes like high yield, high starch content, tolerance /resistance to different pests and diseases, good culinary properties, adaptability to different soil conditions etc. Different advanced biotechnological tools are also being used in this division for developing improved varieties of tuber crops.

ICAR-CTCRI has a germplasm wealth of tuber crops, totalling 5542. The pioneering role in classical breeding of tropical tuber crops attracted international collaborations in the breeding and genetic improvement of these crops. Research on molecular based improvement is also being continued. The ICAR-CTCRI has released 71 varieties with various quality traits and preferences. The cassava starch and sago production in the country is mostly dependent on four major industrial varieties of cassava released from ICAR-CTCRI, viz., H-165, H-226, Sree Athulya and Sree Apoorva. These varieties are promising and acceptable to the farmers as well as industries. The three cassava varieties, Sree Reksha, Sree Sakthi and Sree Suvarna are resistant to cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and are high yielding. A new variety in cassava viz., Sree Kaveri was recently released by Central Variety Release Committee (CVRC) for the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Sree Kaveri is resistant to cassava mosaic disease, drought tolerant and has high nutrient use efficiency. The β-carotene rich sweet potato varieties, Bhu Sona, Bhu Kanti and Bhu Ja; anthocyanin rich Bhu Krishna and mid-season drought tolerant Bhu Swami have gained wide popularity among the rural and tribal people. Two varieties in taro viz., Sree Telia and Sree Hira were released for the state of Odisha by State Variety Release Committee (SVRC). The Institute has strong research programmes on biotechnology, which includes the development of diagnostic tools for viral and fungal diseases and transgenic plants for conferring resistance to cassava mosaic disease and to enhance the starch content and develop waxy varieties.