Plant Science and Biodiversity Center SAS
Topic
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of adventitious root differentiation
PhD. program
plant physiology
Name of the supervisor
doc. RNDr. Ján Jásik, DrSc.
Contact:
Receiving school
Prírodovedecká fakulta UK
Annotation
Generating a perfect adventitious root system is essential for form plant propagation using stem cuttings. Adventitious roots generally develop de novo from already specialised cells. These must be reprogrammed, and this process includes significant changes at the molecular biological, physiological and morphological levels. These processes are also interesting from a general biological point of view. The Ph.D. thesis aims to contribute, using current molecular and cell biological approaches, to the knowledge of the factors on which optimal root formation depends. The method of thin internode discs of grapevine and Arabidopsis will be employed. The conditions for root formation from these explants under in vitro conditions will be optimized. After induction, changes accompanying the activation and redifferentiation of competent cells in the explant will be studied using histological and cell biological techniques combined with confocal and electron microscopy. RNA sequencing will be used to identify key genes involved in cell reprogramming. After obtaining quantitative data on expression profiles using bioinformatics methods, the expression of some selected, differentially expressed genes will be verified by qRT-PCR. Differences in profiles between woody and herbaceous plants will be examined. The findings can be used in agricultural breeding practice to optimise the rooting of economically important species. From a theoretical point of view, a contribution will be made to understanding the principles of cell redifferentiation.