Using less land better - manipulating growth of individual plants, synchronising maturity and reducing crop wastage

本项目将研究全头莴苣作为移植高价值叶菜作物的实例。支持这一研究的假设是，那些生长速度明显快于作物群体平均水平的植物，可能会被延迟或抑制生长，以减少收获时植株大小的变化。该学生将研究是否会通过a)环境胁迫处理或b)使用激素和/或抗蒸腾剂暂时减少光合作用而暂时减少生长。这种方法也适用于其他叶类蔬菜，其中大小是成熟的衡量标准，特别是芸苔。

This project will study whole head lettuce as an example of a transplanted, high value leafy vegetable crop. The hypothesis underpinning this studentship is that plants identified as developing significantly faster than the crop population average could have their growth delayed or held by treatments to reduce variation of plant size at harvest. The student will investigate whether growth may be transiently reduced through a) environmental stress treatments, or b) the application of hormones and/or anti-transpirants that temporarily reduce photosynthesis. This approach will also have application for other leafy vegetables where size is a measure of maturity, particularly brassicas.