Project properties
Title Why can we store dry seeds for so long?
Group Plant Physiology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 24-39
Supervisor(s) Annabel van Driel
Examiner(s) Leonie Bentsink
Contact info annabel.vandriel@wur.nl AND thesis.PPH@wur.nl
Begin date 2024/01/02
End date 2025/02/28
Description Once harvested, a well dried seed can remain alive for years and decades without losing its ability to germinate and grow into a new plant. This is an amazing ability and a great evolutionary trick, but also an important trait for crop seeds. In our lab, we try to figure out how this precisely works. We know that for germination to occur, translation of mRNA is essential. But how exactly can you store a fragile molecule such as mRNA for such an extended period of time?

In my specific project, I test the hypothesis that important mRNAs needed for germination are protected by proteins in specific storage centres inside the cytosol of cells. My aim is to visualise these mRNAs and their attached protection proteins inside cells of dry seeds (Arabidopsis and lettuce) and to illustrate that this way of storing mRNAs is important for proper seed storage and germination.

Want to join me?
Do not hesitate to write me: annabel.vandriel@wur.nl


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 phenotyping, stereo and confocal microscopy, CRISPR Cas, Cryo-microtomy, qRT-PCR and/or FISH
Requirements I am looking for Msc students with an interest in working with seeds, molecular biology and/or imaging. You can take part in live-imaging, plant phenotyping, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, plant transformation, protein-tagging and the development of new molecular techniques.