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Project

F1 hybrid breeding in industrial chicory: Molecular dissection of CMS and creation of haploid inducers

The project focuses on Cichorium intybus (chicory), a crop which is mostly used for the inulin content of its roots. In the first part of the research, the objective is to create a haploid inducer line by CRISPR-editing certain target genes. This haploid inducer line would allow for fast generation of homozygous plants, which would take years using normal breeding strategies. Here, the focus will be mainly CENH3, a gene that was shown to induce haploids when mutated in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Secondly, it was found that chicory Cytoplasmic Male Sterility (CMS) lines, which are normally male sterile, become fertile if the plant is subjected to heat for a period of time. An RNA-seq experiment has been set up to investigate the cause of this on a transcriptional level.

Date:8 Nov 2019 →  5 Dec 2023
Keywords:Chicory, Haploid induction, CRISPR
Disciplines:Agricultural plant breeding and biotechnology
Project type:PhD project