Project properties
Title The role of blue-light photoreceptors in seed development (MSc only)
Group Plant Physiology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 30-39
Supervisor(s) Anniek Oosterwijk, Lars Bakermans
Examiner(s) Dr Charlotte Gommers
Contact info Contact (email)

thesis.PPH@wur.nl & anniek.oosterwijk@wur.nl
Begin date 2025/02/01
End date 2025/08/01
Description The transitional phase from dark-grown seedlings to light is very important. During this transition, skotomorphogenic seedlings must change many processes to become photomorphogenic and start photosynthesis. In this process, photoreceptors sensing the incoming light are very important.

We have observed that different blue-light photoreceptor mutants in Arabidopsis have different seed sizes, which likely causes the weight differences and, thereby, different (proto)chlorophyll levels in very young seedlings. We are interested in studying these seed phenotypes in more detail, following the seed-to-seed growth cycle in the different genotypes, and investigating the influence of different seed sizes on germination.
Used skills Phenotyping various traits from seeds to whole plants, qPCR, (confocal) microscopy, germination assays, genotyping, and data analysis are the main techniques used. Other techniques may be involved depending on the mutual interest of students and supervisors.
Requirements Basic knowledge of plant physiology and molecular biology, creative and critical thinking. PPH10806, PPH30306 and PPH30806, and/or other relevant courses in Plant Sciences