Project properties
Title Identification of multi-stress response mechanisms in Arabidopsis thaliana HapMap population using a genome-wide association study approach (BSc. Only).
Group Plant Physiology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits >18
Supervisor(s) Dr. Iris Kappers
Examiner(s) Dr. Iris Kappers
Contact info iris.kappers@wur.nl AND thesis.PPH@wur.nl
Begin date 2022/03/14
End date 2025/04/30
Description Plant encounter a myriad of stress conditions in the wild, both biotic as well as abiotic conditions. These stress conditions affect germination, growth (e.g. shoot growth, root growth, etc.) and the response to other stress conditions. While often in laboratory experiments only a single stress conditions is applied, we aim to combine both biotic and abiotic stress conditions in this project and assess the effect on the plant's performance.
Arabidopsis thaliana grows in a wide range of habitats in the Northern Hemisphere. Different Arabidopsis accessions therefore experience different growth conditions. This results in phenotypic and genotypic variation as a result of the local growth conditions. In a genome wide association study (GWAS), this phenotypic and genotypic variation is harnessed to study the response of a population of Arabidopsis accessions and identify genes which underly the response to the imposed stress condition(s).
In this project we use the HapMap population, containing dozens of Arabidopsis accessions, and quantify the accession's phenotypes in response to a combination of biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Using an online tool called GWAPP, we are able to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes, and thus the genes and mechanisms which determine the response to the applied stress conditions.
AIM: Identify genes involved in multi-stress response in Arabidopsis using plant phenotyping and GWAS

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 in vitro plant growth techniques, phenotyping, molecular biology, biochemical assays, data analysis
Requirements Basic knowledge of plant physiology, creative and critical thinking. PPH10806 or other relevant courses in Plant Sciences/Biology