معرفی
Dr. Marieke Jeuken is a Research Associate in Plant Breeding at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in lettuce genetics and disease resistance mechanisms. With over 20 years of research experience, she focuses on utilizing wild relatives of cultivated lettuce for breeding improved varieties with enhanced resistance to pathogens, particularly downy mildew (Bremia lactucae).
Her research interests include:
- Genetic analysis of disease resistance mechanisms in lettuce
- Genome assembly and comparative genomics of wild lettuce species
- Non-host resistance to downy mildew
- Introgression of resistance traits from wild relatives
- Development of molecular markers for breeding applications
- Plant-pathogen interactions at the molecular level
Dr. Jeuken's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on genomic approaches to understanding disease resistance. Her work on genome assemblies of wild lettuce species like Lactuca saligna and Lactuca virosa has revealed critical insights into resistance mechanisms against downy mildew. These studies bridge fundamental genetics with practical breeding applications, identifying specific genomic regions that could be utilized in developing more resilient lettuce varieties.
As an active supervisor, she serves as Co-promotor for multiple PhD candidates working on cutting-edge lettuce breeding projects. Her collaborative research spans multiple projects focused on improving lettuce for conventional agriculture and emerging production systems like vertical farming.
