Exploitation of crop wild relatives for more sustainable and healthier spinach

Projecttitel: Exploitation of crop wild relatives for more sustainable and healthier spinach
Projectnummer: LWV19089
Missie: Sleuteltechnologieën
MMIP: ST2 - Biotechnologie en veredeling
Looptijd: 2020 – 2023
Projectleider: Chris Kik

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is an economically important crop and one of the most nutritious vegetables in the human diet. 
Spinach has two (sexually compatible) wild relatives S. tetrandra and S. turkestanica, which are important genetic resources in spinach breeding. 

In this project, our overall aim is to explore genetic variation in S. turkestanica and S. tetrandra by elucidating the genomic structure of spinach in the unique CGN collection, which will facilitate maximum use of genetic diversity in breeding for traits related to productivity, adaption and human health.