Drought stress and water scarcity negatively affect cassava root development and yield production. The development, selection and deployment of cassava genotypes with enhanced drought tolerance and water use efficiency (WUE) will help to achieve food security in the face of climate change and a continuously growing population. The ability of cassava genotypes to produce optimum yields under limited water environments is enhanced by specific genes, proteins, metabolites, and carbon (C) assimilation potential. Therefore, this comprehensive review aimed to document: (i) the effects of drought stress on cassava agronomic, physiological, and biochemical traits, WUE and C assimilation potential, and (ii) the mitigation strategies and breeding technologies that can be used to improve cassava yield production, drought tolerance and WUE under drought stressed conditions. The development and selection of drought-tolerant and water-use-efficient cassava genotypes assist in reducing food insecurities. Therefore, the integration of mitigation strategies and breeding technologies could increase the efficiency of developing and selecting drought-tolerant and water-use-efficient cassava cultivars. The information presented in the present review will guide cassava breeders to develop and deploy drought?tolerant cassava cultivars.

Keywords: carbon assimilation capacity, drought tolerance, metabolites, proteins, water use efficiency