Project properties
Title How plastids regulate plant breathing?
Group Plant Physiology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 30-39
Supervisor(s) Kin Pan Chung
Examiner(s) Christa Testerink
Contact info Kinpan.chung@wur.nl, thesis.pph@wur.nl
Begin date 2025/01/01
End date 2025/06/30
Description Plastids are the signature organelles in photosynthetic organisms. While chloroplasts — one of their differentiated forms — are well-known for converting sunlight into food, plastids play a broader role beyond photosynthesis. They are crucial for various metabolic pathways, immune responses, and stress signaling. Intriguingly, plastids also influence plant respiration by regulating stomatal opening, which controls gas exchange. However, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains limited. In particular, we do not know much about the impacts of plastid mutations on plant breathing.
This project aims to explore this aspect further. We have developed a collection of plastid mutants in the model species Nicotiana tabacum. Your work will involve analyzing these mutants and measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS, crucial stress signaling molecules) produced in the defective plastids. A key focus will be examining how these mutants influence stomatal behavior, a vital response to drought stress.
Used skills Plant tissue culture; microscopy
Requirements Basic knowledge of plant physiology and molecular biology.
PPH courses: PPH10806, PPH30306 and PPH30806, and/or other relevant courses in Plant Sciences/Biology.