The faculty member of our University's Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Assist. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Erdogan's Research proposal titled "Development of Non-Transgenic Cucumber Lines Resistant to Powdery Mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) Using CRISPR / Cas9 Genome Editing Technology" has been accepted by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) within the scope of 2219 Abroad Research Scholarship Program. As part of the project, our faculty member will carry out his research for 12 months at the University of Worcester, School of Science and the Environment, Molecular Plant and Microbial Biology Department in England.

Assist. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Erdoğan stated that with this project it is of great importance to develop lines that are tolerant or resistant to powdery mildew, which causes serious crop losses in cucumber plants as quickly and effectively as possible. Erdogan also explained that the CRISPR / Cas9 genome editing system will be established in order to improve the resistance to cucumber powdery mildew fungi, which will provide effective and short-term results, enable us to keep up with the latest developments in the world, considering the cost of using pesticides in combating diseases both in the world and in our country and the damage to the environment.

Noting that this project will be among the pioneering model studies for the CRISPR / Cas9 genome editing system to be implemented in the future in terms of resistance to other plant diseases in our country, and that non-transgenic plants that have become resistant to disease can be obtained and these plants can be used in further studies in the breeding and private sector, Erdoağan said. He added that they expect the continuation of the later stages of the work in terms of the "Geothermal Advanced Greenhouse Technologies and Production Techniques Joint Application and Research Center" established under the coordination of our university, which was selected as a pilot university.