Projects
The role of genome integrated T-DNA sequences in the evolution/domestication of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) Ghent University
This project wants to analyze the presence, expression and role of T-DNA sequences in several sweet potato genotypes. Sequences analysis will be performed to study the inserted T-DNA sequences and the flanking plant DNA. The inheritance of the T-DNA alleles will be studied in the progeny of a cross.
Evolution and diversification of East African sweet potato crop wild relatives, Ipomoea L. (Convolvulaceae). Ghent University
In Kenya, persistent drought and population increase drive up food demands, threatening food security. Advanced genomic techniques will be used to investigate the evolution and diversification of sweet potato wild relatives, with focused sampling of the understudied Eastern African species; thus, providing analytical tools for biodiversity conservation, and food security strategies in the face of climate change for the region.
Impact of Bio-fortified Sweet Potato Adoption on Food and Nutrition Security in Tigray, Ethiopia. Ghent University
In Tigray region of Ethiopia, 80% of the population is poor and malnourished. Bio-fortified sweet potato, the flagship of agriculture-based nutrition interventions, could help to reverse that trend, but its adoption rate is tremendously lower than elsewhere in Ethiopia. This project examines the drivers and impact of its adoption in order to improve food, and nutrition security, and rural development.
Development and quality evaluation of a decreased viscosity complementary food made from a combination of maize, soybean and orange-fleshed sweet potato Ghent University
A complementary food, made from locally grown (Vaal Triangle) soybean, maize and sweet potato will be produced while lowering the viscosity in order to facilitate consumption by the infant. Viscosity decrease will be attempted using endogenous amylase and extrusion technology. Influence of these food technology processes on (anti)nutritional content, cytotoxicity, mycotoxins, and β-carotene stability will be assessed.
Modern Breeding Techniques of Sweet Potato Ghent University
The development of local varieteis of sweet potato with specific characteristics such as high yield, improved nutritional value and/or increased disease/drought resistance is of great importance to the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. This short training initiative aims to build capacity in the South woth regards to new and modern breeding techniques, amongst which the use of molecular markers.
Successfulintroduction of the cultivation of sweet potatoes in Flanders PCG-Vegetable Research Centre
Sweet Immunity in wheat and tomato KU Leuven
In a changing world, crops with high yields and stress tolerance have always been the focus of agricultural research. Wheat is one of the major crops worldwide and tomato is commonly included in different diets, making up an essential part of a balanced and diverse diet. In general, plants are always subject to various external pressures, including biotic and abiotic stresses, causing damage, reducing plant yield and even causing plant death. ...
Phytosanitary risks of newly introduced crops Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Some consumers and pioneering growers show a growing interest in the edible tubers yacon, ulluco, batat (a kind of sweet potato), crosne, mashua, oca and the so-called "forgotten vegetable" Jerusalem artichoke. These are niches in a relatively new market, where there are few plant disease studies or food safety rules. The plant material (the seed, the nodules, the cuttings) that sometimes come ...
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) as a tool in virus diagnostics: a case study for the identification of new harmful plant viruses in Belgium Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The aim of this project was to make the non-targeted and therefore very broad 'High Throughput Sequencing' technique, which is emerging in the world of diagnostics, available for plant viruses. As a case study, the researchers focused on Solanaceae (nightshade family), an important plant family to which potato, and also tomato, sweet pepper and aubergine (eggplant) belong. These crops are ...