Functional genomics of abiotic stress tolerance in the brown algalmodel Ectocarpus siliculosus using an Arabidopsis toolbox

A Ph.D. student will be trained in an interdisciplinary area of algal functional genomics and molecular plant physiology. Combining these two areas in this project will solve two major issues. (1) Currently, there is a limitation in the study of brown algal functional genomics; brown algae, including Ectocarpus, are not yet amenable for genetic transformation, and other genetic tools like RNA interference system are still in their infancy for these organisms. We therefore propose to use the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (that is easily amenable for genetic transformation) to study the function of Ectocarpus genes by systematically introducing the genes into the Arabidopsis genome. (2) There are limitations on methods of inducing abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Introducing putative stress response genes of Ectocarpus in Arabidopsis might lead to discovery and use of novel genes that could potentiate salinity and drought stress tolerance in crop plants.

Faculty Supervisor:

Balakrishnan Prithiviraj

Student:

Partner:

Université Pierre et Marie Curie

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

Dalhousie University

Program: