Project properties

Title Field experiment to monitor phenotypic development of cabbage plants
Group Plant Breeding, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 24-39
Supervisor(s) Dr. Guusje Bonnema, Jorge Aleman Beaz, Zihan liu
Examiner(s) Dr. Guusje Bonnema
Contact info Guusje Bonnema, Guusje.Bonnema@wur.nl, tel. 0317-484028
Begin date 2020/02/01
End date 2022/12/01
Description Brassica oleracea displays enormous phenotypic variation, including leafy vegetables (cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts), tuber crops (kohlrabi) and inflorescences (cauliflower, broccoli). Brassica genomes all have undergone a whole genome triplication (WGT) which facilitated this phenotype diversification. We study the so called domestication events.
In two PhD projects, the molecular pathways involved in leafy head development of cabbages are studied. Both quantitative genetic and cytological approaches are followed to reveal key mechanisms and genes that play important role in the folding of leaves. In previous projects we studied the development of a related crop, Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp pekinensis). As a result we identified several genes involved in leaf ad abaxial development and in cell division and expansion as candidates for the leafy head domestication trait. But it became also clear that the development of leaves at different stages (seedling, rosette, floding, leafy head) differs.
The aim of the proposed thesis project is to phenotype leaf development and relate this to the plant developmental stages combining leaf phenotypes with gene expression of selected genes. We will select a number of cabbage genotypes with different phenotypes and grow these in the field. We will weekly phenotype these by counting the leaves and making photos of each leaf (destructive). These data will reveal how the different leaves develop, and what their final fate is. Like what are the rosette leaves, do they grow faster, stay green longer? When does leaf folding start etc.
In addition we will take samples to isolate RNA in order to profile gene expression of genes related to plant aging, flowering and leaf development.
Design trial to phenotype cabbage plant development in the field. Generate data and Quantitative analysis of the data. RNA isolation, gene expression analysis by qrtPCR. Selecting candidate genes involved in the plant age, flowering time and leaf development and design primers. Analyse the combined data to make a model of B. oleracea leafy head development.
Used skills Design trial to phenotype cabbage plant development in the field. Generate data and Quantitative analysis of the data. RNA isolation, gene expression analysis by qrtPCR. Selecting candidate genes involved in the plant age, flowering time and leaf development and design primers. Analyse the combined data to make a model of B. oleracea leafy head development.
Requirements Breeding for stress tolerance and quality, advanced statistics, Preferably courses like MOB-30806 (regulation of plant development)