Project properties

Title Study of break of dormancy in diploid potato
Group Plant Breeding, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 24-36 ECTS
Supervisor(s) Xulan Wang
Examiner(s) Christian Bachem
Contact info X. Wang (xulan.wang@wur.nl)
Begin date 2021/03/01
End date 2021/08/31
Description Potato is the most important non-cereal crop in the world. It is vegetatively propagated from seed tubers. After the onset of tuberization, the tubers undergo a period of dormancy. During this stage, bud growth is suppressed. Several weeks after harvest, the eyes open and dormancy break occurs.

However, dormancy period differs by genotypes. Diverse sprouting time requires extra effort of farmers and premature sprouting causes extra waste throughout the supply chain. Previous studies have shown that dormancy period can be regulated by pre- and post-harvest environmental factors including day length, temperature, and humidity. Plant regulators are often used to inhibit or promote sprouting. The genetic regulation is however not fully understood.

We have assessed tuber sprouts from a diploid potato population for two years and a QTL was located. A fine-mapping population will be grown in first half of 2021 to narrow down the QTL region.

The student will read relevant literatures and write a comprehensive review on the factors that regulate the break of dormancy. If time allows, the student will be involved in genotyping and phenotyping of the fine-mapping population.
Used skills Literature research, scientific writing, QTL analysis, phenotyping
Requirements BSc in plant science or equivalent