Exploring the role of root architecture traits in improving nitrate use efficiency

The European Research Council (ERC) and University of Nottingham are co-funding a total of 6 PhD studentships as part of the ERC FUTUREROOTS project awarded to a multidisciplinary team of researchers based at the Centre for Plant Integrative Biology (CPIB; www.cpib.ac.uk) led by Professor Malcolm Bennett. A brief background to the ERC FUTUREROOTS project and details about each PhD project are attached. Further details about the ERC FUTUREROOTS project can be found at http://www.futureroots.eu.

Applications are invited, to include a CV and cover letter describing your experience and suitability for which PhD position, and should be emailed to Professor Malcolm Bennett’s secretary Jennifer Dewick ([Email Address Removed] ). Vacancies will remain open until filled and we would therefore suggest immediate application.

Outline: This project seeks to identify the key root architecture traits and regulatory genes that control nitrate use efficiency (NUE) by exploiting X-ray CT datasets, novel wheat genetic resources and new genome sequence information. The ability to capture in wheat depends mainly on the morphology of the root system. Prolific root systems are more effective at capturing nitrate than sparse systems, but inter-root competition sets a natural ceiling on optimum root length density above which further increases require excessive roots which do not have measurable effects on nitrate uptake. Nitrate easily leaches down the soil profile, so rooting depth is an important attribute for soil N acquisition. However, root length per unit soil volume (RLD) in wheat is commonly below the critical density of 1 cm cm-3 at depths below ca. 80 cm. Root distribution with depth is principally determined by time for growth (residence times are greater in the topsoil than the subsoil), soil physical properties and water and nutrient availability.

In this project the student will directly test whether this and/or other combinations of root characteristics are critical for NUE. The project will include a combination of experimental and modelling work using X-ray CT to capture data on the root architectural properties that are characteristic of lines exhibiting poor or good NUE. The work programme will initially focus on identifying the root architecture traits in wheat that improve nitrate uptake efficiency (NUE). In parallel, quantitative data available for wheat mapping populations for NUE will be employed to map QTL for these individual traits and then pinpoint common chromosomal regions in which these multiple traits co-localise.

Candidates should have a good first degree (preferably at the level of a first-class degree in the UK context), and/or a suitable MSc, in biology or a related discipline. Informal enquiries may be addressed to: Darren Wells ([Email Address Removed])