Towards the Breeding of Climate Smart Crops - understanding plant acclimation to the environment

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

If we are to feed the growing world population, then we need to breed crops that grow better. In particular, it has been shown that photosynthesis, the process at the base of all plant growth, could be made more efficient in crop plants. The aim of this project is to examine how photosynthesis is limited under different growth conditions, to identify potential bottlenecks in metabolism. Previously, we have shown that plants are able to optimise their growth for particular conditions, a process called acclimation. Mutants which are unable to acclimate have reduced yield under natural conditions. In this project you will use a combination plant physiology, systems biology and modelling to investigate how plants are able to acclimate to a range of light and temperature conditions. The impact of changing growth conditions on the proteome and metabolome will be examined using mass spectrometry. The impact of this on plant performance will be examined using plant physiology techniques. To understand how metabolism responds to different conditions, you will apply metabolic modelling. In this way, you will identify possible bottlenecks in metabolism which can be tested using genetic modification. This project would suit someone with a background in plant sciences or biochemistry willing to learn computational approaches and who is committed to addressing key challenges for society using the latest analytical approaches available.