Project properties
Title Role of Salicylic acid in root salt stress tolerance
Group Plant Physiology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 30-39
Supervisor(s) Minnie Leong
Examiner(s) Prof. Dr. Christa Testerink
Contact info Minnie.leong@wur.nl, thesis.PPH@wur.nl
Begin date 2024/06/01
End date 2025/12/31
Description Salicylic acid (SA) is a well-known phytohormone for biotic stress resilience, but it has also been suggested to regulate ion homeostasis when plants are under salt stress. Ion homeostasis, especially the ratio between sodium and potassium, is crucial for many growth and developmental processes in plants. Therefore, in this project we would like to study the role of key SA biosynthesis and signalling genes in regulating ion content in Arabidopsis roots, and what are the phenotypic output in terms of root system architecture. You will get a chance to mine genes of interests through analysing available RNA-seq data sets, and implement a range of physiological amd molecular assays to verify their roles in root salt stress response.
Used skills Analyses of existing transcriptome datasets, phenotype analyses (root system architecture), ion profiling, molecular assays (qPCR, Western blot etc). Other techniques may be involved depending on mutual interest of students and supervisors
Requirements Interest in plant physiology, plant cell and molecular biology as well as relative wet-lab techniques (experiences are plus but not necessary).

If no prior experience, then preferably taken one of the following courses: PPH30306 Molecular concepts of plant resilience, PPH30806 Plant plasticity and Adaptation