Improving photosynthesis in wheat using wide crossing with wild relatives in novel environmental conditions

There is an urgent need to increase food production by at least 60% to meet global population demand. Wheat’s distant relatives provide a vast resource of novel genetic variation for agronomically important traits. One trait that has the potential to produce a step – change in yield is a higher photosynthetic efficiency, an area with global renewed interest. This project will test photosynthesis in a series of lines derived from wheat – wild relative crosses (e.g. Triticum urartu and Aegilops mutica). Thousands of such crosses have been generated at Nottingham’s Wheat Research Centre. Novel environmental conditions will be used including sub-ambient (pre-industrial) CO2 levels. It will measure photosynthetic, photoprotective and photorespiratory properties using chlorophyll fluorescence, reflectance, gas exchange, imaging, molecular physiology, leaf anatomy. There will be opportunities to gain further experience in cutting edge phenotyping at Bayer CropScience.

This is a physiology-based project in a lively interdisciplinary research environment. Wheat wild type introgressions are genotyped in parallel and there will be an opportunity for genetic analysis. This work will make an academically outstanding contribution in a highly relevant field.

Please see individual studentship details for deadlines.

Contact: Dr Erik Murchie , [Email Address Removed], School of Biosciences