Germany: Domestication of plants enriches the spectrum of food

Published 2021년 8월 3일

Tridge summary

A research collaboration between the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Nigerian researchers has identified toxic substances in Ebolo, a leafy vegetable with potential to enhance food diversity and security in Sub-Saharan Africa. The vegetable was found to produce Jacobin, a toxin linked to liver damage and cancer. The team is now focusing on breeding toxin-free varieties to make the vegetable safe for consumption. This research aims to improve the cultivation and breeding of Ebolo and could also provide insights into toxic substances in other plants. The project is part of the 'African Orphan Crops Consortium's efforts to explore the genome of key African plant species for research and breeding advancements.

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Original content

08/03/2021 | 11:37:00 | ID: 30632 | Department: Agriculture | Science & Research Freising-Weihenstephan (agrar-PR) - As a contribution to food security and diversity in Sub-Saharan Africa, a leafy vegetable rich in vitamins and minerals is to be cultivated. At the moment, however, the plants still contain highly toxic substances that are carcinogenic and damaging to the liver, as a research team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and researchers from Nigeria have shown. The researchers now aim to breed toxin-free varieties so that the plant can be used safely. The earth offers a rich treasure trove of plant species. Around 300,000 edible plants are available to feed the world's population, but only a fraction of them are consumed by humans. The three crops rice, wheat and maize feed half of the world's population; these types of grain provide high yields and fill you up. They are rich in carbohydrates and therefore efficient suppliers of calories. In some countries, ...

Source: Agrar