The Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Agriculture UGM) and the Industrial Crops Institute of the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICI-HAAS) in China are collaborating on research into potato late blight, a disease that threatens potato crops. The collaboration was initiated by Professor Ani Widiastuti of Agriculture UGM and Dr. Guo Mei of ICI-HAAS. The two institutions have also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) covering cooperation in the three pillars of higher education: education, research, and community service.
Professor Ani explained that the research collaboration focuses on potato late blight. It grew out of her professional relationship with Dr. Guo through AsiaBlight, an international community of researchers working on the disease. The partnership may also expand to include academic exchanges and community service initiatives.
“This collaboration gives us an opportunity to expand our network beyond research and into broader activities, as I have also been given the opportunity to involve other colleagues,” she said on Tuesday (Oct. 20).
During the institutional visit, Professor Ani also presented several research projects, including one titled “Harnessing UV-B Light for Plant Defense Priming in Horticultural Crops against Fungal Pathogen Infection.”
She also visited laboratories and research fields where newly developed potato varieties were being tested for resistance to late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans.
Together with Dr. Guo, she discussed opportunities to expand the partnership, potentially beginning with community service programs that educate farmers on the early diagnosis and management of potato diseases.
One of the proposed initiatives is training farmers to recognize early symptoms of potato diseases. Building on the complementary research interests of the two institutions, Professor Ani also recommended UGM researchers whose expertise aligns with their respective research priorities.
This approach could broaden the collaboration beyond a single research topic through various activities, including workshops and academic exchanges. She hopes the joint research will deliver practical benefits that can be applied by potato farmers in Indonesia.
Professor Ani also expressed hope that potato farmers in Indonesia would be able to develop and cultivate varieties resistant to late blight, helping them mitigate and control the disease in their crops.
“I hope this collaboration will not only advance scientific knowledge but also produce outcomes that can be applied and used by potato farmers across Indonesia,” she concluded.
Author: Jesi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Zabrina Kumara
Photo: Ani Widiastuti’s documentation