Project properties

Title Set up transformation and regeneration of B. oleracea
Group Plant Breeding, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 24-39
Supervisor(s) Dr. Guusje Bonnema, Jorge Aleman Beaz, Zihan Liu , Johan Bucher
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. This will result in the identification of genes that either define whether the plant makes a leafy head or not (domestication genes) and genes that influence head size and shape. We will test the function of these gene by either expressing them in non-heading B. oleracea morphotypes, or by knocking them out in cabbage lines.
For this we need to set up an efficient transformation system.
The student will screen protocols, and perform transformation experiments with constructs containing both selection and reporter genes. When successfull, the student will also be involved in the generation of constructs to OE or Knock Out (CrisprCAs) candidate genes.
Used skills Plant Cell and Tissue culture
Plant Transformation using Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Validation of transformation by phenotype and PCR
Making constructs for transformation in GateWay system using candidate genes
Requirements Students that followed several of the following courses are preferred: Plant Cell and Tissue culture, Gene technology, Plant Biotechnology