BBSRC SWBio DTP PhD studentship: Uncovering the relationship between circadian rhythms and photosynthetic regulation to improve plants response to waterstress

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (SWBio DTP) which is a BBSRC-funded PhD training programme in the biosciences, delivered by a consortium comprising the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter, along with the Rothamsted Research Institute. The partnership has a strong track record in advancing knowledge through high quality research and teaching, in collaboration with industry and government.

Studentships are available for entry in September/October 2018.

All SWBio DTP projects will be supervised by an interdisciplinary team of academic staff and follow a structured 4-year PhD model, combining traditional project-focussed studies with a supporting but focussed taught first year with directed rotation projects.

Supervisory team:
Main supervisor: Dr Paula X.Kover (University of Bath)
Co-supervisors: Dr Anthony Dodd (University of Bristol), Prof Jason Wolf (University of Bath) and Prof Alistair Hetherington (University of Bristol)

Daily cycles of light and dark have a profound impact on plant life, because plants require sunlight to drive photosynthesis. Circadian rhythms in plants might allow optimal shifts in physiology to better match the diurnal changes in light and temperature in most plant species. For example, stomata open during the day to allow CO2 uptake for photosynthesis. This causes the transpiration of water into the atmosphere, accounting for 99.5% of plant water consumption. Stomata are microscopic pores in the surfaces of leaves that are bounded by a pair of guard cells and form adjustable valves that control the exchange of CO2 and water vapour with the atmosphere. Intriguingly, stomatal opening is regulated by endogenous circadian rhythms in addition to environmental cues. Circadian rhythms of stomata opening have been shown to increase plant water use efficiency (Dodd et al. Science 2005); however, little is known about the adaptive significance of circadian rhythms and the genetic mechanisms underlying circadian regulation of stomatal opening. Here, we propose to exploit natural variation and the considerable genetic resources available for the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to obtain new information about how circadian rhythms help plants adapt to water stress.

1. The student will map loci associated with circadian regulation under control and water stress, using the Multiparent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) lines of Arabidopsis (Kover et al. PLoS Genet. 2009). The student will analyse the data to detect quantitative trait loci for both circadian and water use phenotypes, and use this information to map a small number of genes linked to these traits. MAGIC lines allow mapping of quantitative traits to the genome with especially high resolution (Kover et al. 2009). These experiments will provide the student with training in quantitative genetics, statistics, and plant physiology approaches.

2. To further characterise candidate genes identified in the mapping study described above, the student will obtain knockout mutants of all relevant genes. Appropriate physiological phenotypes will be pursued in these lines according to the nature of the genes identified (e.g. circadian rhythms of stomatal opening, circadian gating of stomatal responses to environmental cues, and the responses of these mutants to conditions of water stress).

3. To determine the adaptive importance of the loci identified, the student will grow wild type and knockout lines of the genes identified, under a number of environmental conditions, and determine their fitness by measuring growth, seed production and seed viability.

Applicants must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree (or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK) in an appropriate area of science or technology. In addition, due to the strong mathematical component of the taught course in the first year and the quantitative emphasis in SWBio DTP projects, a minimum of a grade B in A-level Maths (or an equivalent qualification or experience) is required.

Candidates should apply using the University of Bath’s online application form selecting PhD programme in Biosciences (full-time) https://www.bath.ac.uk/study/pg/applications.pl#bio-sci./

For more information, please see: http://www.bath.ac.uk/science/postgraduate-study/research-programmes/funding/bbsrc-phds/