Gene editing and molecular breeding for fungal disease resistance in lettuce

该奖学金提供了一个创新的机会，将联合收割机最先进的分子技能（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，模型植物，实验室和实地工作相结合。您将很好地融入A L Tozer有限公司的育种团队以及白色玫瑰BBSRC机械生物学博士培训合作伙伴关系。生菜是英国最有价值的新鲜蔬菜作物，国内产值1.54亿英镑，出口额1300万英镑。核盘菌（Sclerotinia sclerotiorum）是一种真菌病原体，其对田间生长的和受保护的莴苣作物造成重大损失，并且至关重要的是，在生产所需的投入的显著成本之后，在生长季节后期发生。化学防治是有问题的，限制喷洒和杀真菌剂是中等-高风险的病原体抗性的发展。发展作物抗病性是防止浪费的更可持续的解决方案。该项目建立在登比教授和A L Tozer Ltd成功合作的基础上，将系统生物学和定量遗传学相结合，以确定抗病性来源，并将其纳入优质生菜品种，以提高生产的可持续性。该项目将涉及与Tozer合作：确定赋予抗病性的QTL的潜在基因（疾病测定，分子标记和遗传杂交）测试候选基因增强对S.使用无足迹基因编辑来测试候选基因在莴苣抗病性中的作用阐明莴苣防御反应功能的关键调控因子如何从具有田间抗S. sclerotiorum和Iceberg栽培品种进行基因分型和表型。登比小组包括经验丰富的博士后科学家，他们从事叶菜类蔬菜、抗病性和转录调控以及计算专业知识的研究。CNAP为植物科学家提供了一个将基础研究和应用研究相结合的支持性环境。

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.