Project properties
Title Enhancing plant growth and health by amending rhizosphere microbiome with insect residual streams
Group Entomology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 12 - 36
Supervisor(s) Katherine Barragan-Fonseca
Marcel Dicke, Joop van Loon
Examiner(s) Marcel Dicke, Joop van Loon
Contact info Katherine.barraganfonseca@wur.nl
Begin date 2022/10/01
End date 2023/10/01
Description Insect production produces biowaste that can be use for different purposes. Adding insect waste products to soil has been shown to enhance soil microbial communities, increasing the presence and abundance of beneficial soil-borne microbes that promote growth and induce resistance against herbivores. Most of the studies have focused on the effects of belowground interactions with e.g. beneficial rhizobacteria on aboveground antagonists. Studies on the role of belowground organisms on plant-mediated interactions between antagonists and mutualists have been neglected so far. In this project we will investigate whether and how soil amended with insect exuviae can promote plant growth and defense strategies and the consequences for pollinator performance and plant fitness.
Used skills Literature review, data analysis, report writing. Depending on the thesis: field work (e.g. insect identification), laboratory work (processing data collected from the field), greenhouse work, volatile analysis, herbivore performance, pollinator behaviour.
Requirements For doing a MSc-thesis or internship at Entomology, the following requirements apply: ENT-30806 + a second ENT-course (preferably ENT-30306 or ENT-50806 or ENT-53806). As an alternative for the second ENT-course, PHP-30806 or BHE-30306 can be selected.
Note: these requirements do not apply for MBI students; MBI students should check the requirements for doing an ENT MSc-thesis or internship in the study programme of their specialisation.