Prof
Noureddine
Benkeblia

Job title: 
Professor, Crop Science
Education: 
BSc, MSc, PhD INA, Dr. Agr. Kagoshima
Telephone: 
+1 876 970 6849 ext. 3849
+1 876 702 4203
Email: 
noureddine.benkeblia@uwimona.edu.jm

Staff

Overview
Prof. Benkeblia has been working on food sciences and technologies from 1991. He started his work on crops physiology and biochemistry, preservation technologies such as irradiation, chemicals, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), rare gases and other natural biological compounds (essential oils). From 2000, he focused his research on the postharvest metabolism of carbohydrates, mainly fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and fructans, and their impact on crops qualities. He also introduced new tools of "Metabolomics" in his research to investigate the biochemistry and the biological system of the biosynthesis and metabolism of FOS in fructan-containing plants (using asparagus and onion as models).
Research Interests: 
Postharvest physiology and biochemistry of horticultural crops mainly vegetables;
Postharvest technologies for horticultural preservation including MAP, Irradiation and Natural Biological Compounds (Essential Oils)
Carbohydrates, in particular fructans and fructooligosaccharides metabolism in horticultural crops and their impact on plant physiology
Courses Taught: 
BOTN2402 – Physiology of Plants
BOTN3403 – Fundamentals of Horticulture
BOTN3407 – Postharvest Technologies
Featured Work: 
• Benkeblia, N. (2020). Biotechnologies and Vitamins Biofortification of Crops. Wiley & Sons Publisher, Chichester 256 p.
• Benkeblia, N. (2019). Climate Change and Crop Production: Foundations for Agroecosystem Resilience. CRC Press, Boca Raton (FL), 191 p.
• Benkeblia, N. (2017). Phytonutrients and Crops Improvement. Wiley & Sons Publisher, Chichester, UK, 544 p.
Public Service: 
Associate Editor. Canadian Journal of Plant Science
Academic Editor: Plos Climate
Professional Memberships: 
Member of the Canadian Society of Plant Science (CSPS)
Member of the Canadian Society of Agronomy (CSA)
Member of the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM)
Expert and Member of the Regional Experts Commission for the Caribbean, Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) (Francophone University Association)
Research Areas: 

My recent work focuses on the application of METABOLOMICS to elucidate fructans and fructooligosaccharides accumulation and translocation in fructan-accumulating plants (using onion and asparagus as plant models)