Project properties
Title Characterization of transcription factors involved in root salinity response.
Group Plant Physiology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 21-39 ECTs
Supervisor(s) Kilian Duijts, Prof. Dr. Christa Testerink
Examiner(s) Prof. Dr. Christa Testerink
Contact info kilian.duijts@wur.nl, christa.testerink@wur.nl AND thesis.PPH@wur.nl
Begin date 2022/02/01
End date 2025/10/01
Description Soil salinity is an increasing problem for agriculture worldwide. To understand how plants deal with this stress we study the development of their root systems under salinity stress. In previous experiments we have identified a salt induced transcription factor (SIT1) that is involved in lateral root development during salt stress. In vitro experiments have revealed a number of potential interaction partners (pip) of SIT1. In this thesis you will employ use Crispr to generate knockout(s) of these pip(s), create complementation constructs and phenotype previously generated/related (Crispr) mutants. You will gain experience with various molecular techniques as well as the characterization of Root System Architecture in Arabidopsis.

Further reading:

Stuttmann, J. et al. Highly efficient multiplex editing: one-shot generation of 8× Nicotiana benthamiana and 12× Arabidopsis mutants. Plant J. 106, 8–22 (2021)
Julkowska, M. M. et al. Capturing arabidopsis root architecture dynamics with root-fit reveals diversity in responses to salinity. Plant Physiol. 166, 1387–1402 (2014)
Karlova, R., Boer, D., Hayes, S. & Testerink, C. Root plasticity under abiotic stress. Plant Physiol. 187, 1057–1070 (2021).

See more from our group on
rootsinsalt.com

If you are interested in this project please contact the supervisor via email with a copy to thesis.PPH@wur.nl with:
1. Your motivation for choosing this project
2. For which purpose (BSc or MSc thesis, research practice, etc)
3. Your BSc/MSc program
4. When you would like to start
Please be aware that if you do not provide the required information above it may cause a delay in our reply.

Used skills Cloning, Crispr knockout generation, genotyping, phenotyping of Root system architecture, microscopy; data analysis in R
Requirements Basic knowledge of plant physiology and molecular biology, creative and critical thinking. PPH10806, PPH30306 and PPH30806, and/or other relevant courses in Plant Sciences