Dr P Schafer
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Dr. Patrick Schäfer , University of Warwick, School of Lfe Sciences Dr. Holger Schultheis, BASF
With a focus on generating stress-resilient maize and soybean crops, the project falls under the remit of the BBSRC strategic priority one: agriculture and food security and also has many crossover applications with the BBSRC strategic priority two: industrial biotechnology and bioenergy.
The novelty and innovation of our approach is the exploitation of the fungal symbiont Serendipita indica to activate resistance in all major crops against a broad spectrum of abiotic (e.g. drought, salt) stresses and diseases. S. indica releases proteins (termed effectors) during plant colonisation. These effectors interact with plant proteins to reprogram plant pathways regulating plant stress resistance. We are in a unique position as we have approved the function of a number of S. indica effectors that reprogram plant stress resistance pathways.
Together with BASF, we will validate the specific function of plant proteins targeted by S. indica effector to enhance stress resilience against salt and drought stress as well as diseases in maize and soybean. The ultimate aims is to apply this knowledge to generate elite maize and soybean cultivars with higher resistance against abiotic stresses and diseases.
This project is in collaboration with BASF; the successful student will spend between 3 and 18 months on placement with the industrial collaborator.
This project is part of the MIBTP programme based at the University of Warwick.
Funding Notes
BBSRC eligibility rules apply.
This is a fully funded studentship to include fees, stipend, consumables and a travel / conference allowance.
Continue with Facebook
