2024 Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium
Location
John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)
Document Type
poster
Abstract
It is predicted that production of certain mainstream crops will decrease due to climate change. Identification of new crops that are adapted to diverse environmental conditions is fundamental for food security under a changing climate. Tef (Eragrostis tef Zucc.) Trotter, is a very popular grain crop in Ethiopia. It has many great health benefits and thrives in moisture-stressed and waterlogged conditions unlike corn and wheat (Cheng et al., 2017). Tef has a brilliant nutrient profile being high in dietary fiber, iron, calcium, amino acids, and is gluten free (Bendane et al., 2015). Tef is slowly gaining acceptance in the U.S.A for human consumption and as hay for animals. Our lab has been investigating adaptation of tef to Iowa conditions. In this study, we investigated whether tef can withstand cold temperatures. Lodging and grain shattering are major problems for tef production. We also developed a protocol to improve tef through chemical mutagenesis using ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS).
Start Date
26-7-2024 11:00 AM
End Date
26-7-2024 1:30 PM
Event Host
Summer Undergraduate Research Program, University of Northern Iowa
Faculty Advisor
Tilahun Abebe
Department
Department of Biology
Copyright
©2024 Eliana Wulfekuhle, Enoch Bolaji, Tilahun Abebe
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Wulfekuhle, Eliana; Bolaji, Enoch; and Abebe, Tilahun, "Is Tef (Eragrostis tef Zucc.) Trotter Suitable for Cultivation in Iowa?" (2024). Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium. 24.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/surp/2024/all/24
Is Tef (Eragrostis tef Zucc.) Trotter Suitable for Cultivation in Iowa?
John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa
It is predicted that production of certain mainstream crops will decrease due to climate change. Identification of new crops that are adapted to diverse environmental conditions is fundamental for food security under a changing climate. Tef (Eragrostis tef Zucc.) Trotter, is a very popular grain crop in Ethiopia. It has many great health benefits and thrives in moisture-stressed and waterlogged conditions unlike corn and wheat (Cheng et al., 2017). Tef has a brilliant nutrient profile being high in dietary fiber, iron, calcium, amino acids, and is gluten free (Bendane et al., 2015). Tef is slowly gaining acceptance in the U.S.A for human consumption and as hay for animals. Our lab has been investigating adaptation of tef to Iowa conditions. In this study, we investigated whether tef can withstand cold temperatures. Lodging and grain shattering are major problems for tef production. We also developed a protocol to improve tef through chemical mutagenesis using ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS).
