MSU enters agreement with French institute

Missouri State University’s recently entered memorandum of understanding with the French National Institute for Agriculture Research brings collaboration in research and education for the two entities, according to an MSU news release.

Scientists with MSU’s Center for Grapevine Biotechnology at the William H. Darr School of Agriculture and the institute will conduct joint research projects, work together to train young scientists, exchange scientific materials and data, and organize bilateral scientific meetings, the release said.

The institutions have agreed to focus collaboration on five research areas, with three focused on the state grape of Missouri, the Norton. MSU has acquired the raw DNA sequences for Norton grapes. Joint efforts with the French institute will analyze and interpret the genome as part of efforts to breed new grape varieties and better understanding of grapevines.

“We will start executing the MOU by sending a bioinformatics specialist to (the institute) to work on the assembling of the Norton genome under the supervision of Dr. Anne-Françoise Adam-Blondon, deputy head of the genetics and breeding department,” said Wenping Qui, research professor at MSU’s campus in Mountain Grove.[[In-content Ad]]