Project properties
Title Investigating an <b>age-induced resistance</b> mechanism in sugar beet plants against <b>aphids</b>
Group Entomology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 24-36
Supervisor(s) Sharella Schop, Karen Kloth
Examiner(s) Marcel Dicke
Contact info Sharella.Schop@wur.nl
Begin date 2021/12/01
End date 2022/12/01
Description Mature Plant Resistance (MPR) is an age-induced resistance mechanism in sugar beet plants against aphids. Aphids are the vector species of multiple sugar beet-infecting viruses, which result in yield losses up to 50%. With this project, you will study the underlying molecular pathway of MPR and contribute to the understanding how plants defend themselves against aphids. In this project, you will study aphid behaviour and use molecular tools to unravel which secondary metabolites are involved in resistance against aphids. There are also possibilities to investigate the role of Beet Yellowing viruses in plant resistance or the effect of environmental factors on the resistance mechanism. In this thesis, you will be supervised at both the Lab. of Virology and the Lab. of Entomology. This research can also be part of an internship.
Used skills Behavioural experiments, PCR, gel-electrophoresis, primer-design, qPCR, data-analysis, scientific writing.
Requirements ENT-30806 + a second ENT-course (preferably ENT-30306 or ENT-50806 or ENT-53806) or Molecular virology (VIR-30306) or Fundamental and Applied Virology (VIR-30806). 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 program of their specialization.