Gene editing and molecular breeding for fungal disease resistance in lettuce

这个项目提供了一个创新的机会，将最先进的分子技能(无足迹基因编辑、RNA测序、基因组学)与遗传学、植物病理学、作物、模式植物、实验室和田间工作结合起来。你将很好地融入A L Tozer有限公司的育种团队以及白玫瑰BSRC机械生物学博士生培训伙伴关系。生菜是英国最有价值的新鲜蔬菜作物，国内生产总值1.54亿GB，出口价值1300万GB。核盘菌是一种真菌病原体，对大田种植和受保护的生菜作物造成重大损失，关键是在生产所需投入的巨大成本之后，在生长季节后期发生。化学控制是有问题的，限制喷洒和杀菌剂是发展病原菌抗药性的中高风险。发展作物抗病能力是防止浪费的更可持续的解决方案。该项目建立在邓比教授和A L Tozer有限公司成功合作的基础上，将系统生物学和数量遗传学相结合，以确定抗病来源，并将其整合到优质生菜品种中，以提高生产的可持续性。该项目将涉及与Tozer合作：识别与抗病相关的QTL基因(疾病分析、分子标记和遗传杂交)测试候选基因通过在拟南芥中的过表达来增强对菌核病的抗性的能力利用无足迹基因编辑来测试候选基因在生菜抗病中的作用评估生菜防御反应功能的关键调控因子从具有田间抗病能力的优良育种系中建立一个图谱群体，用于基因分型和表型鉴定。Denby小组由经验丰富的博士后科学家组成，他们致力于叶类蔬菜、抗病和转录调控以及计算专业知识的研究。CNAP为植物科学家结合基础研究和应用研究提供了一个支持性环境。

This studentship offers an innovative opportunity to combine state-of-the-art molecular skills (footprint-free gene editing, RNA sequencing, genomics) with genetics, plant pathology, crop, model plant, lab and field work. You will be well integrated into A L Tozer Ltd. breeding teams as well as the White Rose BBSRC Mechanistic Biology Doctoral Training Partnership. Lettuce is the most valuable fresh vegetable crop in the UK, with a home production value of £154 million and export value of £13 million. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a fungal pathogen, causes substantial losses on field-grown and protected lettuce crops and crucially, strikes late in the growing season after the significant cost of inputs required for production. Chemical control is problematic with restrictions on spraying and fungicides being medium-high risk for development of pathogen resistance. Development of crop disease resistance is a more sustainable solution to prevent waste. This project builds on a successful collaboration between Prof. Denby and A L Tozer Ltd combining systems biology and quantitative genetics to identify sources of disease resistance for incorporation into elite lettuce varieties to enhance the sustainability of production. The project will involve working with Tozer to:Identify genes underlying QTL conferring disease resistance (disease assays, molecular markers and genetic crosses)Test candidate genes for their ability to enhance disease resistance against S. sclerotiorum by overexpression in ArabidopsisUse footprint-free gene editing to test the role of candidate genes in disease resistance in lettuceElucidate how key regulators of the lettuce defence response functionDevelop a mapping population from an elite breeding line with field resistance against S. sclerotiorum and Iceberg cultivar for genotyping and phenotyping. The Denby group contains experienced postdoctoral scientists working on leafy vegetables, disease resistance and transcriptional regulation, as well as computational expertise. CNAP provides a supportive environment of plant scientists combining fundamental and applied research.