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Dr Antoinette van Schalkwyk, Dr Boney Kuriakose, Erika Viljoen

Quality and wholesomeness of food and food products are two issues addressed prominently by society especially in relation to obesity (and atherosclerosis), the most important cause of cardiovascular disease and age-related diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. Module 2 is dedicated to screen tomato and potato for variation in levels and/or composition of antioxidants, other health-related nutraceuticals and minerals. This involves targeted analyses of (i) antioxidant metabolites, such as carotenoids, vitamin C and E, flavonoids and other phenolics, (ii) folate and (iii) minerals, such as Fe and Zn, as well as an untargeted screening for (novel) antioxidants. Genes/QTLs responsible for the formation and accumulation of these nutraceuticals will be mapped and screened. Subsequently the molecular and regulatory mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis, accumulation and degradation of these metabolites, using all available X-omics technologies, will be elucidated. The most relevant traits (metabolites) and genotypes will be identified for further analysis and the influence of development (fruit, tuber) and growing conditions assessed on these traits. Tomato and potato collections will be profiled for neutraceuticals and the most relevant traits and lines identified and confirmed for breeding.

 

For further information visit the EU-SOL webpage.

New Publications

Si H, Wang Y, Liu Y, Li S, Bose T, Chang RL. (2023) Fungal Diversity Associated with Thirty-Eight Lichen Species Revealed a New Genus of Endolichenic Fungi, Intumescentia gen. nov. (Teratosphaeriaceae). Journal of Fungi 9(4):423. 10.3390/jof9040423
Guignard Q, Johannes Spaethe, Bernard Slippers, Natasa Nikolic, Jeremy D. Allison. (2023) Eye morphology and colour preferences in a semi-field test of the pine pest, Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae). African Entomology 31 10.17159/2254-8854/2023/a13406 PDF
Aylward J, Ngubane NP, Dreyer LL, Oberlander K, Wingfield MJ, Roets F. (2023) Convergent evolution unites the population genetics of Protea-associated ophiostomatoid fungi. Fungal Ecology 63:101242. 10.1016/j.funeco.2023.101242
Tarigan M, Pham NQ, Jami F, Oliveira LSS, Saha MA, Duran A, Wingfield MJ. (2023) Calonectria species diversity on eucalypts in Indonesia. Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science 10.2989/20702620.2023.2179441
Aylward J, Roets F, Dreyer LL, Wingfield MJ. (2023) Unseen fungal biodiversity and complex inter-organismal interactions in Protea flower heads. Fungal Biology Reviews 45:100317. 10.1016/j.fbr.2023.100317