Genetic diversity, acridity and historical dispersal of taro

Project: PhD

Project Details

Description

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a globally-distributed root crop that also serves as a nutritious green vegetable, and is an excellent source of food and cash income for many small-scale farmers. The history of its domestication, use and dispersal is still poorly known. While there has been considerable interest in the early history and genetic diversity of this crop, among archaeologists and crop researchers in Asia and the Pacific, taro has also been involved in the modern migrations of diverse ethnic groups into America, including the forced migration from Africa. Analysis of geographical patterns in the distribution of genetic diversity alongside ethnobotanical field data can provide valuable insights into the history of food plants. The proposed research aims at developing and applying molecular methods to trace the long- to near-term translocations of taro across the oceans, in order to better understand the social, economic and historical significance of this crop. The research results will use recently developed genomic sequencing methods to provide baseline knowledge of the genetic diversity in taro. This can be used to further develop national and international taro repositories, for conservation and breeding purposes, while also supporting new historical research on the crop. Building on previous research, the full chloroplast genomes of selected taro specimens will be analyzed and new tests will be developed for identifying specific lineages of cultivated taro, and their interrelationships. The results are expected to be of practical use in those countries where the food security of small-holder farmers depends critically on taro and other root crops.
StatusActive
Effective start/end date1/06/22 → …

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