Begoña Pérez Vich

GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF OIL CROPS

My line of research focuses on molecular genetic improvement of oil crops, with two objectives:

1. Improvement for seed quality components (fatty acids, tocopherols, phytosterols and glucosinolates).
2. Improvement for resistance to jopo (Orobanche cumana) in sunflower.

These objectives are approached from a molecular point of view, including genetic studies, development of molecular markers and genetic maps, determination of genes and genetic mechanisms associated with biologically and economically important traits, and marker-assisted selection programs. He also developed molecular tools for minority crops such as Ethiopian mustard and safflower, which are of great relevance for the improvement and diversification of agricultural systems, as well as for sunflower poppy.