Andean roots and tubers:
Maca
In the past few years we focus
our studies on the genetic and physiological understanding of maca, L.
meyenii Walp. also know as
Lepidium peruvianum Chacon sp. nov.) This species is little known Andean root in
the Cruciferae family. This crop has multiple uses as food and medicine.
On the physiological side, these
studies include range of adaptation, growth response at different photoperiods
and soil pH, field observation at a low altitude habitat. On the cytogenetic
side, it includes chromosome number and pairing in meiosis, DNA-based marker
development for determination of genetic variability, wild species
relationships and genome donors.
One of the important components
in maca roots are glucosinolates.
Benzyl glucosinolate (tropaeolin) is the main glucosinolate found in
this species. When it is hydrolysed
by the enzyme myrosinase, this glucosinolate will release cancer protecting
isothiocynanates. The cancer protection ability of these compounds was
demonstrated years a ago in rats after treating them with cancer inducing
chemicals.
Tuber
Crops
We are involved in a project on Andean
tuber crops in collaboration with the University
of Cusco and the International Potato
Center sponsored by the
Mcknight Foundation. This project involves four tuber crops, mashua, oca, olluco and potatoes. The project is
entitled: Strengthening the
On-farm Conservation and Food Security of Andean Tubers in the Fragile
Ecosystem of the Southern Peruvian Highlands." In our lab at Davis, we are focusing on
mashua and olluco.
Mashua
Tropaeolum
tuberosum, is a tuber crop
loaded with glucosinolates, and interestingly enough, its has as its main
glucosinolates those found in maca. An aspect of the project is to quantify
glucosinolates in this crop and to estimate its genetic variability based on
molecular markers.
