Project properties
Title Improving seed priming in Arabidopsis
Group Plant Physiology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 24 – 39
Supervisor(s) Lars Bakermans, Mariana Silva Artur
Examiner(s) t.b.d.
Contact info lars.bakermans@wur.nl AND thesis.PPH@wur.nl
Begin date 2024/03/11
End date 2024/08/31
Description Seed priming is a pre-germination treatment which can be used to improve the uniformity and germination rate of seed batches. Additionally, it can make seeds more resilient to abiotic stresses. It is used frequently by seed companies to upgrade seed batches. However, seed longevity is reduced by priming treatments that are currently available, resulting in lower storability. It has been reported that high temperature treatments during the priming process can partially restore seed longevity while keeping the improved germination rate and uniformity. The optimal settings for this high temperature treatment are still to be determined.

This project will focus on optimizing a priming protocol by including high temperature treatments. Different protocols will be tested and the most optimal protocol will be selected. In the second phase of the project, we can assess which molecular mechanisms play a role in the newly developed priming treatment. This will further our understanding of the trait off involved in seed priming.


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 priming, seed phenotyping, seed technology, qPCR, Western blot
Requirements Preferably one of the two courses: Seed science and technology (PPH-31306) or Plant plasticity and adaptation (PPH-30806).