Exploiting Genetic Diversity of Essential Micronutrients in Duckweeds for Human Nutrition

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Duckweeds are fast growing aquatic plants that have excellent nutritional qualities (high protein content, valuable omega-3 fatty acids and essential micro-nutrients), suggesting high potential for human and animal nutrition. Recent research suggest that there is a significant genetic variation for these nutritional qualities in different species and even intraspecific duckweeds. However, the genetic basis of such variation in duckweeds remains unclear. We aim to pinpoint the genetic basis underlying the variation of nutritional qualities in duckweeds towards developing toolkit for selecting suitable duckweed genotypes for future applications in human and animal nutrition. In this DTP studentship, we will primarily focus on the nutritional quality of essential omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids, which are important in a wide variety of physiological processes in human and animal health. Same as originally submitted except we have included Amino acid profiling along with the fatty acids.