Project properties

Title Evolution of Rhizobium symbiosis
Group Molecular Biology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 12-39
Supervisor(s) Dr ir R Geurts
Examiner(s) Prof dr T Bisseling
Contact info rene.geurts@wur.nl
Begin date 2012/03/01
End date 2018/03/01
Description Legumes comprise one of the most important agricultural taxa worldwide providing a major source of proteins for humans and animals, and nitrogen for soil improvement. Legumes have the unique ability to establish a symbiosis with nitrogen fixing Rhizobium bacteria. These bacteria are hosted in newly formed organs; the root nodules. The formation of nodules requires developmental reprogramming of root cortical cells as well as infection of the plant root by the bacterium. Both processes are induced by bacterium-produced signal molecules, called Nod factors. Forward genetics in legume model species like Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus has resulted in the identification of a small symbiotic network essential for Nod factor perception and signaling. To understand why the Nod factor signaling network is functional in legumes, but not in closely related species, and how these genes have evolved, the function of closely related genes in non-nodulating plant species is studied.
Used skills Techniques that will be used are:
- Recombinant DNA technology (gateway) and PCR to make fusions of genes of interest and fluorescent proteins that are used to tag these proteins, overexpression, promoter-GUS, and RNAi constructs
- transformation of Medicago roots,
- molecular analysis of transgenic plants,
- immunolocalisation of proteins in intact roots (Immunocytochemistry),
- localisation of reporter gene (GFP) expression with Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM).
Requirements For BSc thesis: MOB20306
For MSc thesis: MOB20306 and and MOB30306 or MOB31303 or MOB30806 or PHP30806 or equivalent