Improving the nutritional quality of indigenous vegetable crops under climate change

Improving the nutritional quality of indigenous vegetable crops under climate change Malnutrition affects one in three people on the planet, with 2 billion people being deficient in one or more micronutrients. In the coming decades, climate change will present a major challenge to agriculture, natural ecosystems, and global economies, for producing enough and nutritious food, which has been reflected in sustainable intensification of agricultural systems. Rainfall patterns have already begun to vary. The frequency and intensity of floods, droughts, cyclones, and storm surges will increase and the prevalence of sea-level rise and salinity will also increase. Some of the strategies recommended for climate change mitigation and adaptation include the establishment of more diverse cropping systems with the inclusion of crops that are drought and heat stress-tolerant, to better adapt to climate variability and new pest and disease pressure. The sustainable production and consumption of biodiverse indigenous nutritious horticultural crops provide a key part of the solution to this problem in low income developing countries. Many indigenous vegetable species are grown and sold in local markets, mainly by female producers, as a source of income to alleviate their poverty in low-income countries. However, many of these crops are under-researched and their full potential has not been realised. Solanum aethiopicum (African eggplant) is an indigenous vegetable crop and majorly produced and consumed in tropical areas of sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. African eggplant exhibits such large diversity and this species has four cultivar groups, however, it has been neglected in research in comparison to the common eggplant/aubergine, S. melongena. Indian mustard (Brassica juncea var. rugosa) used as leaf vegetables and is native to Central and Eastern Asia. It has acquired the status of popular vegetable crop due to its wider adaptability to various agro-climatic conditions. The leaves may be eaten raw, for example, in a salad. Lablab purpureus (hyacinth bean) is an old domesticated and multi-purpose crop native to Africa and it is cultivated throughout the tropics. The fruit and beans are edible if boiled well, the leaves and root can as well be consumed. Some indigenous vegetables can tolerate a wide spectrum of abiotic changes. However, some species are more sensitive than others and also farmers face pests and disease problems along with water shortages that hamper their productivity. Climate change has varying effects on plants responses at the level of molecular function, developmental processes, morphological traits, and basic physiological responses. Plants may respond similarly to avoid one or more stresses through morphological or biochemical mechanisms. Environmental interactions may make the stress response of plants more complex or influence the degree of impact of climate change. Understanding these climate change-induced stresses are critical for sustainable production of nutritious vegetables.
The PhD student will:
- Understand the effects of climate change on the nutritional quality of indigenous vegetable crops
- Investigate genetic variability on commercial cultivars but as well on mapping populations.
- Determine agronomic practices and post-harvest handling practices that improve the yield and nutritional quality of indigenous vegetable crops.