“Knowing about these genes will allow us to detect plants of yerba mate that naturally produce much or little caffeineand produce decaffeinated plants for those people with caffeine intolerance,” said the researcher Maximiliano Rossi to the Telam news agency.
The missionary academic will present in the month of February at the University of Michigan, United States, and other institutional areas, his doctoral thesis on the presence of caffeine in Yerba Mate. The research began in 2017 and concluded in 2023, being endorsed by the National University of Misiones (UNAM) with collaboration from the University of Michigan and the University of Buenos Aires (UBA).
“The study has application in production, since, with this knowledge, a producer of yerba mate will be able to identify plants with high, medium or low levels of caffeine and produce them clonally, to generate a variety of flavors, which will also depend on the growing conditions,” Rossi told the news agency.
Maximiliano Rossi He has a degree in Genetics, a doctor in Biotechnology and teacher. Additionally, she is a member of the Science and Research team at Ministry of Education of Misiones. This training allowed us to carry out research within the framework of genetics, by sequencing the complete genome of the plant. yerba mate
According to specialists, the University of Michigan laboratory is a pioneer in research into caffeine in plantss, such as guarana, cocoa, tea and coffee. The project to study yerba mate interested the North American institution, which supported the academic work with a scholarship.
by RN
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