PhD Studentship – The significance of plant interactions in the design of cereal breeding programmes

Scotland’s Rural College and University of Edinburgh

PhD Studentship – The significance of plant interactions in the design of cereal breeding programmes
Plant interactions in agricultural systems can be defined according to crop genetic structure including mono-genotypic (monocultures), multi-genotypic (e.g. mixtures of cultivars) and multi-species (e.g. intercropping systems). Understanding the physiological and genetic basis of intra- and inter-specific interactions in the crop or competition environment is of prime importance for developing plant breeding programmes to support a wider diversity of crop growing systems, in which crop genetic diversity can exploited to increase yield and crop resilience in the face of climatic challenges.

This PhD studentship will study wheat and barley genotypes grown under a range of intra- and inter-specific crop environments. The appointee will quantify trait expression and variation in plant performance as precursors to establishing, (i) direct genetic effects associated with each genotype and (ii) indirect genetic effects associated with the presence of other individuals in the crop environment. For application to plant breeding, it is important to establish the significance of intra- and inter-specific plant interactions on traits that influence crop vigour, yield and grain quality.

The experimental approach will use field phenotyping and genome wide association studies to study the expression and genetic loci of key leaf canopy and seed/embryo traits. Analysis of different genotypes grown under a range of crop environments will allow the student to consider how knowledge of plant interactions can support breeding for more diverse crop systems.Applicants must have a minimum of a 2:1 degree or equivalent in plant or crop science, biological science or crop genetics. Experience or interests in areas of crop ecology, agriculture or quantitative genetics would also be relevant for this post. This 3.5 year studentship is funded to pay the tuition fees for UK/EU students only and offers a stipend of £14,553 per annum. Non UK/EU nationals must provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover the higher international student tuition fee level (approximately £14,900 per year would be required). The student will register for a PhD at the University of Edinburgh. He/she will work under the supervision of Professor Wayne Powell, Dr Steve Hoad and Dr Peter Hoebe (SRUC) in collaboration with Dr Catherine Kidner (University of Edinburgh) and NIAB-TAG, Cambridge.

SRUC, Scotland’s Rural College, delivers comprehensive skills, education and business support for Scotland’s land-based industry founded on world class, sector leading research, education and consultancy, and is also concerned with applying lessons to agriculture globally. SRUC’s joint submission with the University of Edinburgh to the Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science subpanel of the Research Excellence Framework (REF2014) ranks top in the UK on research power.