The role of agronomy and genotype in tissue integrity and associated sugar losses during storage of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris).PhD Studentship

Harper Adams University (HAU) has the above research studentship (42 months funding including a 6 months paid work placement)available in the Crop and Environment Sciences Department. The project is funded by the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO) and involves a six month placement at the BBRO at the start of the project.

Sugar beet is a major crop grown in temperate countries as a source of dietary sugar. However, sugar can be lost from harvested roots during storage. Factors that reduce the propensity to root breakage and/or bruising may be associated with a reduction in sugar losses during storage. The student will identify phenotypic traits under genetic or agronomic control to enable plant breeders and growers to optimise tissue strength, making roots more resilient to damage. This project addresses a specific commercial need and also develops a commercially relevant scientist who would be well suited to working in the UK/EU industry across a range of crop types.

• Objective 1 – To identify extreme sugar beet varieties for tissue damage susceptibility and resilience.
• Objective 2 – Identify the morphological and cellular basis of tissue resilience to root breakage and bruising
• Objective 3 – Study the effect of environmental factors on tissue resilience
• Objective 4 – Study the effect of nutrient status during growth on tissue resilience
• Objective 5 – To engage with the British Sugar Beet industry and transfer findings to a wide audience

The student will receive training in post-harvest physiology, agronomy, soil and crop assessments and statistical analyses as well as experience of the technical challenges of commercial crop production.