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ClimateSmart African Rice Scholar presents findings on salt-tolerant attributes of African rice at the Gordon Research Conference
Climate-smart African Rice Project Scholar Nafeti Titus Mheni joined the 2024 Gordon Research Conference on Salt and Water Stress in Plants in Newry, Maine, USA, where he presented a poster on his thesis work on “Genome-wide association study (GWAS) for salt tolerance in African rice (Oryza glaberrima)”.
Nafeti looked into the important genes for salt tolerance in African rice through marker-trait associations (MTAs). After studying 335 African rice accessions, he found 27 potential markers indicating the variety’s salinity tolerance. These can be used to speed up the development of new salt-tolerant rice varieties.
“The research experience I have gained as a CSAR scholar has helped me design and conduct scientific studies, essential for presenting innovative research findings at a prestigious conference like the Gordon Research Conference.”, shared Nafeti. “Attending the Gordon Research Conference has been a highly enriching experience, offering me a range of benefits for personal and professional growth,” Nafeti said that because of the conference, he got the opportunity to learn the latest research and innovations in plant science. He got to hear from experts and engage with new ideas, which is very important for research.
“Participating in the GRC this year has given me a unique opportunity to interact with researchers from around the globe, which could lead to collaborations and the creation of long-term professional relationships.”
Climate change-related abiotic stresses are increasing both in frequency and intensity at a global scale. In 2024, Tanzania experienced some of its most devastating flooding, affecting thousands of farmers’ food and livelihood sources. The Gordon Research Conference discussed stress signaling, physiological processes related to stress response, evolutionary ecology, climate change, and agriculture. The event also became a space for experts to mentor attendees and presenters, helping build collaboration across the network. IRRI Senior Scientist on Stress Physiology and Climate-smart African Rice mentor Dr. Amelia Henry co-chaired the event.