BackgroundCassava (Manihot esculentaCrantz) is staple food and major source of calories for over 500 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. The crop is also a source of income for smallholder farmers, and has increasing potential for industrial utilization. However, breeding efforts to match the increasing demand of cassava are impeded by its inability to flower, delayed or unsynchronized flowering, low proportion of female flowers and high fruit abortions. To overcome these sexual reproductive bottlenecks, this study investigated the effectiveness of using red lights to extend the photoperiod (RLE), as a gateway to enhancing flowering and fruit set under field conditions.Materials and methodsPanels of cassava genotypes, with non- or late and early flowering response, 10 in each case, were subjected to RLE from dusk to dawn. RLE was further evaluated at low (LL), medium (ML) and high (HL) red light intensities, at ~  ≤ 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5PFD (Photon Flux Density) in µmol m−2s−1respectively. Additionally, the effect of a cytokinin and anti-ethylene as plant growth regulators (PGR) and pruning under RLE treatment were examined.ResultsRLE stimulated earlier flower initiation in all genotypes, by up to 2 months in the late-flowering genotypes. Height and number of nodes at first branching, particularly in the late-flowering genotypes were also reduced, by over 50%. Number and proportion of pistillate flowers more than doubled, while number of fruits and seeds also increased. Number of branching levels during the crop season also increased by about three. Earlier flowering in many genotypes was most elicited at LL to ML intensities. Additive effects on flower numbers were detected between RLE, PGR and pruning applications. PGR and pruning treatments further increased number and proportion of pistillate flowers and fruits. Plants subjected to PGR and pruning, developed bisexual flowers and exhibited feminization of staminate flowers. Pruning at first branching resulted in higher pistillate flower induction than at second branching.ConclusionsThese results indicate that RLE improves flowering in cassava, and its effectiveness is enhanced when PGR and pruning are applied. Thus, deployment of these technologies in breeding programs could significantly enhance cassava hybridizations and thus cassava breeding efficiency and impact.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-023-04349-x.