Jimenez-gomez lab:Jobs
Master thesis offer
Fine-mapping and candidate gene analysis for a QTL underlying yield in response to drought in tomato
December 2014
We are looking for a motivated student with interest in plant genetics and molecular biology to join our research group Adaptive Genetics and Genomics at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne (http://www.mpipz.mpg.de/) to perform her/his master thesis with us. Using a set of tomato introgression lines we identified a QTL (quantitative trait locus) for yield in response to water deficit. A specific line carrying the wild tomato allele at this QTL exhibited improved yield stability under drought stress when compared to the elite parent. The aims of the master thesis project will be (1) to fine-map the QTL via genotypic and phenotypic characterization of lines that show recombination within the QTL region, (2) to identify and analyze candidate genes for the QTL, and (3) to phenotype the introgression line comprehensively in response to drought/osmotic stress in early developmental stages. Besides standard lab techniques such as PCR and gel electrophoresis, the work will include for instance gene expression analyses, data analyses and a considerable amount of plant handling. The project should be started as soon as possible. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Inga Schmalenbach (i.schmalenbach@mpipz.mpg.de).