Dutch Royal Academy distinguishes young Tunisian researcher
Tunis, July 3, 2009- Sarrah M’Barek a young
Tunisian scientist recently received the “Jan Ritzma Bos Award” for the
best scientific research, from the Dutch Royal Academy of vegetal
pathology.
The award was given to her on the occasion of the 40 th
anniversary of the academy which carries the name of the founder of the
Prize, Prof. Jan Ritzma Bos.
Dr M’Barek who jointly teaches at the Tunisian Agronomy
Institute (INAT) and at the Wageningen international plant research
institute in Holland, is working on a fungal disease affecting wheat
crops. The disease known as ‘septoriosis’, is responsible for major
losses in cereal crops in the Mediterranean region in general, and in
Tunisia in particular.
The young researcher, whose work has significantly
contributed to identifying ways of combating this destructive
pathology, has plans to use cloning techniques to better apprehend
means of reducing the risk presented by what she termed a “complex and
hitherto inaccessible disease”.
Septoriosis is a fungal disease particular frequent in
wheat crops, as well as other plants. It is known to occasion losses of
up to 40% in crops. To date, losses caused by the pathogenic fungus are
estimated at 600 million dollars.
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