OK i read that post now and yes he was right!
Hehehe...Right now we are in initial stages of distribution studies of native strawberries and their effect to different climate...
To go to what you suggest we need to know about the basics of the crops there....I have read a few studies but most work on Chemistry rather than molecular biology so it has been really tough to get basic info I wouldnt mind doing it myself - working from scratch but for that I need native populations...about 10-20 plants is a good start....to see what kind of gene pool exists if it is something unique than good otherwise ALOT OF work is done on native plants of Europe and when you build the basics then you know what to fix...
Well it is your field so you must know better but what i have learned, i will suggest you visit AARI, NIBGI, NARC, NIAB etc, that will be helpful and you will find tremendous work being done on molecular level as well. But yes, that work is in the main crops of Pakistan.
Well, we are using Strawberry as a MODEL crop to understand molecular mechanisms meaning if we find genes and can uncode their function we can use the same process / genes / mechanisms for other crops too...
I know strawberry isnt the main crop but the very fact that we have a rich diversity in Northern areas is welcoming to study them and make them known to the world so that others can work on it (If Pakistanis arent interested to explore).
I have 1st hand knowledge that there are really unique genes in the crops found in northern area ..I have worked on Pakistani barley it has a higher nutrient content than European barley...But Pakistan ignores it like anything
I also know Pakistani rice and wheat is of better quality but due to alot of research done and collaborations with india, European rice and wheat has become better and enough work is being done to help improve indian one...SO we are left behind....
Okies, i understand that!
To achieve something one must be willing to study the thing and discover the uniqueness if you dont start someone else will and india has already seeped into British research and now is getting into European research....though Africa is still occupying much of the niche!
Basically it will help us back if we develop collaborations then it is easier to bring in other crops...I can work on Pakistani cereal (wheat/ barley / rice) However, it might be a little too late as European scientists are busy collaborating with india so it would be tough but if someone really was into it they would have taken the initiative to write and develop collaborations....
Oky!!
Instead of importing berries wouldnt it be better to use our own, research, improve them and make them export quality?
Man, we are not IMPORTING them, we bought seeds and now it is grown at home. Again, Strawberries are not such a big crop that people will care so much. Anyway, it is your research topic.
You see when people want everything pronto they do mistakes....American strawberries taste good which are a result of over a decade worth of research....Question is who in Pakistan would invest or is interested in starting so that down the road our next generation can stop importing and start exporting?
Exactly, WHO would
I don't think anyone would care enough, not about strawberries here.
Well, the problem is I cant leave Europe in Summer coz my plants in the field need observing as I work on mechanisms of flowering and we start putting plants in the field around summer and leave them till late autumn (well depending on what we are checking)
You want to try Pakistan wild berries and research on them in European environments? I mean, isnt it supposed to work otherwise? like the research and plant growth should be done in the area that particular crop breed in intended for.
Hence, I just want someone (who is travelling for leisure) who can photograph close up pix of flowers, leaves and fruits AND just pick some wild strawberry fruits and smash them on a tissue and keep them until I go to Pakistan in winter (that is how we dry the seeds)..Coz if I go in winter I wont be able to see the fruit and no flowers even....
Oky, well only some local may be able t help you with this or else again, you will have to manage it yourself one way or another.
Anyways, again brother, i mean no disrespect. Wish you very best of luck with this project and i hope you do good.
