PhD Studentship: The enemy of my enemy… why does Zymoseptoria infect wheat but not wheat’s worst weed blackgrass? BBSRC SWBio DTP PhD studentship 2025

Job title:

PhD Studentship: The enemy of my enemy… why does Zymoseptoria infect wheat but not wheat’s worst weed blackgrass? BBSRC SWBio DTP PhD studentship 2025

Company

University of Exeter

Job description

About:The BBSRC-funded SWBio DTP involves a partnership of world-renown universities, research institutes and industry, based mainly across the South West and Wales.This partnership has established international, national and regional scientific networks, and widely recognised research excellence and facilities.We aim to provide you with outstanding interdisciplinary bioscience research training, underpinned by transformative technologies.This PhD project offers an exciting opportunity to investigate two of the most problematic pests of the UK cereal production: Alopecurus myosuroides (blackgrass) and Zymoseptoria tritici (Zt). Blackgrass is Western Europe’s most problematic and costly weed, while Zt causes Septoria tritici blotch, one of the most devastating diseases of wheat. Given that blackgrass often grows in Zt-infected wheat fields, it is very likely that blackgrass has been exposed to Zt. However, our preliminary laboratory data show that blackgrass does not develop Septoria tritici blotch. This suggests blackgrass has natural resistance mechanism, or mechanisms, against Zt infections.The aim of this unique plant-pathogen project is to determine why blackgrass can resist Septoria tritici blotch when wheat cannot. Understanding blackgrass’s resistance mechanisms may reveal new strategies to boost wheat’s resistant to Septoria tritici blotch, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient agrifood system.Project objectives: to confirm blackgrass can resist Septoria tritici blotch and make progress towards understanding the molecular and/or physiological mechanism(s) behind blackgrass’s resistance.Based at Rothamsted Research, in collaboration with the University of Exeter, this PhD project provides you with comprehensive training and access to unique tools and resourcesUp to £19,237 annual stipend

Expected salary

Location

Exeter

Job date

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 23:31:20 GMT

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