Project properties
Title Identifying natural genetic variation for desiccation tolerance in seeds (BSc thesis, start date flexible)
Group Plant Physiology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits >12
Supervisor(s) Mariana Silva Artur, Leo Willems
Examiner(s) Mariana Silva Artur
Contact info mariana.silvaartur@wur.nl AND thesis.PPH@wur.nl
Begin date 2022/03/14
End date 2022/09/14
Description At the end of their development (orthodox) seeds start to lose water from their cells and become prepared to survive in the dry state for long periods of time. The control of the correct rate of drying is essential for the seeds to become fully mature: to accumulate nutrient reserves and to acquire desiccation tolerance (DT) and longevity. However, little is known about the genetic basis of how the drying process is regulated in seeds. What is known is that altering the drying rate of maturating seeds has strong consequences for their quality. In this project you will investigate the natural variation for DT in developing seeds and what is the genetic and regulatory basis for that. You will also investigate how the speed of drying influence seed quality traits. You will use a range of Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes to perform physiological, genetic and molecular assays. You will also be guided to perform a GWAS analyses to identify the loci responsible for this variation.
Background references:
Leprince, O., et al., Late seed maturation: drying without dying. Journal of Experimental Botany, 2017. 68(4): p. 827-841.
Dekkers, B.J., et al., Acquisition and loss of desiccation tolerance in seeds: from experimental model to biological relevance. Planta, 2015. 241(3): p. 563-77.

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 Seed physiology, plant physiology, genetics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, project and time management, experimental design, data analysis.
Requirements Plant Plasticity and Adaptation: PPH-30806 or
Structure and Function of Plants: PPH-10806 or
Biology of Plants: PPH-10306 or
Reproduction of Plants: CLB-10803