Project properties
Title PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORS as regulators of stress responses
Group Plant Physiology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 24-36
Supervisor(s) Eliza van Veen
Examiner(s) Dr. Charlotte Gommers
Contact info eliza.veen@wur.nl AND thesis.PPH@wur.nl
Begin date 2023/09/01
End date 2024/09/01
Description Plants continuously sense and respond to the local environment as a means to steer growth and development. Of the various cues perceived by plants, light has a determinant role in this process. The perception of light intensity, quality and, duration depends on photoreceptors, with the phytochromes perceiving red/far-red wavelengths. Having said that, the phytochromes can interact with numerous partners. Most notably, the PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR (PIF) family of bHLH transcription factors have been identified as key regulators of light-dependent development.

Since their initial discovery, the PIFs have been shown to not only regulate of light-dependent responses, but also integrate numerous external stimuli that shape plant development. Notably, recent studies have identified the phytochrome-PIF module as a regulator of stress responses. In this project we aim to explore this topic further, using salt stress responses in etiolated Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings as a model. We will implement a range of both physiological, molecular, and in silico techniques to determine how the PIFs and their downstream targets are impacted by salinity.

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 Phenotype analyses, immunoblotting, q-PCR, microscopy, analyses of existing transcriptome datasets
Requirements Knowledge of plant physiology, wet lab skills, plant tissue culture experience, an interest in molecular biology and signalling, bioinformatics experience (useful but not essential).

Preferably taken one of the following courses: PPH-30806 Plant Plasticity and Adaptation, PPH-30306 Plant Cell and Tissue Culture